Open Employment Trials

At Good Sammy Enterprises, everything we do helps create employment opportunities for people with disability across Western Australia. Open employment plays a critical role in achieving our purpose — providing inclusive, mainstream job opportunities that reflect each person’s strengths and aspirations.

With the support of grant funding, we’ve been able to trial innovative approaches to support people with disability to find jobs, and work with employers to find opportunities to recognise the value of this untapped talent pool.

With funding from the Paul Ramsay Foundation and an anonymous funder, Good Sammy trialled a training and open employment program for people with disability between 2023-2026.

 

 

Why did we run these trials?

People with disability are twice as likely to be unemployed or work fewer hours compared to people without disability. Most people with intellectual disability in Australia in paid work continue to work in disability specific employment settings.

The barriers to open employment for people with intellectual disability are structural, systemic and attitudinal. These barriers start from young adults finding their first paid work through to people who have worked in closed employment for many years.

Good Sammy trialled two new models of employment support, the Traineeship and licences trial (2 years) and the Hybrid employment trial (3 years). The trials offered training and work experience, with the goal to assist people with disability to build their capacity for open employment and to secure open employment with full award wages in workplaces outside of Good Sammy.

 

What did we learn?

  1. Individualised pathways. Employment pathways work best when they are tailored to the person’s strengths, interests, confidence and goals.
  2. Support matters. Mentor support and individualised job coaching were identified as critical enablers of sustained employment.
  3. Training creates opportunities. Traineeships, licencesand targeted skills development can increase job readiness and open new pathways.
  4. Hybrid can be a bridge. Hybrid employment creates an opportunity to experience an external workplace while retaining a familiar employment relationship.
  5. Employers are central. Sustainable open employment requires employers who are prepared, confident and supported to create inclusive workplaces.
  6. The longer game matters. The trials suggest that taking time to build capability and find the right job fit can create stronger foundations for sustainable employment.
  7. Organisational change is not enough. Good Sammy can build capability internally, but funding settings, employer practices and the wider employment system also shape what is possible.
  8. Scale requires collaboration. Government, employers, service providers, funders and people with disability all have a role in creating more open employment opportunities.

 

Findings from the Trials

  • 18 participants entered Open Employment from Supported Employment or other intake sources.
    • Participants reported increased self-confidence and independence, with many highlighting social inclusion as a key benefit.
    • Employment partners involved in the trial reported positive workplace impact and team cohesion when employing individuals with disability, challenging common misconceptions.
  • 33 traineeship contracts were offered through the pathway trials. Trainees were employed through Good Sammy for the duration of their traineeship.
    • This pathway supports people with intellectual disability to build skills, confidence, and work experience by facilitating their attainment of a Certificate II or III qualification or obtain a car or forklift licence for future employment.
  • Mentorship and job-coaching were identified as critical enablers. Participants reported that consistent, individualised support was a key reason for sustained employment.
  • Some school leavers with disability who entered the provision of service positions after successfully completing training, gained in workplace confidence and were better prepared to move into full award wage paid work.
  • Through hybrid employment, participants diversified their income and work tasks.

 

Evaluation

The program was evaluated in two stages.

An interim report, published in April 2025 and the final report published in August 2026.

Stories of Change: Open Employment Trials

 

Thank you

We acknowledge and thank all participants, staff, workplaces, employers and supporters involved in the Open Employment Pilot Program at Good Sammy. Your commitment to building a more inclusive and accessible workforce is creating real and lasting change.

Your efforts are valued, and your impact is significant.

 

Acknowledgements
Project Funded by:
  • Anonymous funder
Research Partners:

 

Good Sammy Enterprises has been named a winner at the 2026 WA Disability Support Awards for Excellence in Supporting Employment Outcomes.

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