Good Sammy Open Employment trials – Interim Report April 2025

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 through our Open Employment project.

This interim report captures the early outcomes of those trials, offering valuable insights into what works. As the report highlights, “the success of these trials demonstrates the potential for scalable, sustainable models of support that benefit both employees and employers.” These findings not only affirm the importance of Good Sammy’s work but also guide our next steps in building a more inclusive workforce across Western Australia.

Key Highlights from the 2025 Interim Report

• 85% retention rate for participants placed into open employment — indicating strong alignment between support models and job fit.
• 60% of participants reported increased self-confidence and independence, with many highlighting social inclusion as a key benefit.
• Employers involved in the trial reported higher workplace satisfaction and team cohesion when employing individuals with disability, challenging common misconceptions.
• Mentorship and job-coaching were identified as critical enablers. Over 90% of participants said consistent, individualized support was the reason they sustained employment.
• Digital capability training saw a 70% success rate in enhancing employability, with many moving into admin, retail, and logistics roles.

Download Report Here

Key Outcomes

• Innovative Employment Models: The trials introduced new approaches tailored to the unique needs of individuals with disability, focusing on enhancing their employability and workplace integration.
• Positive Employment Outcomes: Preliminary results indicate an increase in the number of participants securing open employment positions, highlighting the effectiveness of Good Sammy’s strategies.
• Stakeholder Engagement: The report emphasises the importance of collaboration with employers, support services, and the community in creating sustainable employment pathways for people with disability.

Why This Is Important to Good Sammy

This interim report shows how Good Sammy is helping lead the way in creating more inclusive workplaces. By testing and improving how we support people with disability into open employment, we’re seeing real results — like strong job retention and greater confidence among participants. It shows that with the right support, people with disability can thrive in all kinds of workplace environments. This backs up the work we’re already doing and helps shape where we go next.

To delve deeper into the findings and methodologies, the full Good Sammy Open Employment Trials Interim Report is available for download here: Good Sammy Open Employment Trials Interim Report – April 2025 UNSW – Good Sammy Evaluation Project

• PRF
• Anonymous funder

• Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney (SPRC)
• Centre for Social Impact UWA (CSI UWA)
• Valued Lives