Implementing USEP
USEP process: Create USEP partnership
How do you start the process of facilitating a collaborative partnership?
This section of the toolkit provides ideas, documents and templates, ethics approved data collation and reflections from successful USEP partners, providing a platform to mould a partnership that will work best for your university, and lead to improved student and graduate employment outcomes.
Video transcript
The USEP program relies on a collaborative partnership approach between university staff and Disability Employment Service providers, or DES, and other stakeholders. It is crucial to the success of the USEP program that all members of the partnership fully understand their commitments and obligations. This includes allowing the USEP consultant time and space to access the resources, tools and training that can help them to do their job effectively, working collaboratively in the best interest of the students who participate and widely promoting the USEP program to any student who would benefit from it. This section provides information and templates to help prospective and participating DES providers and universities to fully understand USEP program commitments, expectations and responsibilities.
Resources
How to Link Your University with a DES Partner
The Disability Employment Service (DES) provider is a pivotal partner providing hands on recruitment for university students in their final year and those that have recently graduated. This section provides documentation that can assist you to work with a DES and allow them to express their interest to partner with your university.
DES Provider Information
These two websites will assist you to locate a Disability Employment Service provider:
** Note: Disability Employment Services contracts concludes June 2023.
Business Case for Disability Employment Services (DES)
To successfully establish USEP you are required to select an employment specialist. This model has selected a Disability Employment Service provider to be this expert recruiter due to their experience working with people with disability and flexibility to provide in-kind services to university students who generally are not eligible for employment support while studying.
These documents highlight the benefits for USEP partners.
MOU Between University and DES Partner
To implement the USEP model, there are specialist requirements each partner needs to fulfil. To assist with this process templates have been created from previous partnership learnings that step you through a Memorandum of Understanding and Site Establishment Plan. They provide timelines and tasks.
The USEP Consultant Handbook
The role of a USEP Consultant is so different to general DES business. The USEP Consultant will be co-located on the university campus, working one on one with students with disability in their final year of study to achieve their graduate employment goals.
This opportunity is a great way for the USEP Consultant to build new skills and make lots of valuable connections. The USEP Consultant will also increase linkages to graduate employers, a stakeholder group the Consultant may not have previously had the opportunity with which to collaborate.
USEP partnerships are a unique experience. The program’s flexibility enables Consultants to tailor services drawing upon their individual, local and national partner’s expertise, as they work with tertiary students embarking on meaningful post-degree employment.
What Works, What Doesn't and Case Studies
Each University Specialist Employment Partnership is unique and has the flexibility to be moulded to meet your university. As a pilot initiative USEP was continually reviewed. This health check enables you throughout the lifecycle to reflect.
Surveys and Data Collection
There are two data collection surveys to support systemic advocacy work to improve transition of people with disability from tertiary education into graduate employment. One survey is to be completed by students as they begin working with their USEP consultant. The second survey is to be completed by students once they have gained employment. The surveys are ethics approved (HREC HRE2020-0079) and allow for ongoing meaningful information and advice regarding the needs of students with disability, their career supports and graduate career opportunities.