Customised Employment Program
Course Overview
The Customised Employment Program, delivered by the Centre for Disability Employment Research and Practice (CDERP), is a practice-focused and internationally recognised pathway into the emerging profession of Customised Employment. Designed for Disability Employment Professionals and those seeking to enter the sector, the program equips participants with the skills, knowledge, and systems understanding needed to support people with disability to achieve meaningful and sustainable employment.
This is the only program outside the United States certified by the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE), the global benchmark for Customised Employment training. Delivered by ACRE-recognised trainers, the course is underpinned by CDERP’s applied research and its international partnerships, including a technical alliance with Griffin Hammis Associates. The program situates Customised Employment in the Australian disability employment landscape, contextualising practice to the NDIS, DES, and the evolving role of ADEs and Social Enterprise, while also drawing critical comparisons with U.S. practice where the model originated.
With 40 hours of structured training, examination, mentoring, and applied learning activities, the program provides participants with not only recognised certification but also ongoing professional development support. Successful completion confers eligibility for professional recognition as a Certified Customised Employment Professional (CCEP), a designation that signifies advanced competency and alignment with global practice standards.
Course Objectives
By undertaking this program, participants will:
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of Customised Employment principles, from Discovery through to post-placement support and service provider change.
- Gain practical skills in job development, employer engagement, work experience facilitation, systematic instruction, and self-employment.
- Apply the Psychologically Informed Employment Counselling Framework (PIE-CF) to strengthen counselling-informed practice, particularly when supporting clients with complex needs.
- Understand how Customised Employment operates within broader systems, including the Equilibrium Systems Model of Employment (ESME) and the Customised Employment Quality Assurance Framework (CEQAF).
- Build the capacity to apply CE strategies in alignment with the NDIS Employment Strategy, the transition to Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA), and the evolution of ADEs and social enterprise models.
- Strengthen person-centred practice, social capital development, and client self-advocacy to advance inclusive employment outcomes.
- Receive structured mentoring and support to consolidate learning and successfully translate knowledge into practice.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the program, participants will be able to:
- Conduct the Discovery process to identify individual strengths, interests, and conditions for success.
- Design and negotiate customised jobs and supports that align with participant goals and employer needs.
- Apply evidence-based tools for employer engagement, relationship development, and outcome measurement aligned with CEQAF.
- Support participants through diverse pathways, including open employment, self-employment, and social enterprise engagement.
- Integrate counselling-informed approaches to build resilience, motivation, and sustainable participation in employment.
- Demonstrate policy and systems literacy, enabling effective operation within NDIS, DES, and reform agendas.
- Achieve recognition as a Certified Customised Employment Professional (CCEP), signifying global-level professional competency in CE practice.
Certification and Professional Recognition
This program requires 40 hours of structured training, assessments, applied learning, and examination. On completion, participants will receive:
- An ACRE Certificate in Customised Employment, formally recognising their training against international standards.
- Eligibility for recognition as a Certified Customised Employment Professional (CCEP), a professional designation that establishes graduates as part of a global movement advancing Customised Employment practice.
This program represents more than a training course; it is a professional gateway, embedding participants within an international standard of excellence and equipping them to lead change in inclusive employment.
Course Lessons
- Understanding Customised Employment and Discovery (UCED)
- Discovery and Social Capital (DSC)
- Self-Advocacy (SA)
- Discovery Stage One (DSO)
- Informational Interviews – Unlocking Skills and Employment (IIUSE)
- Work Experience (WE)
- Job Development & Barriers to Employment (JDBE)
- Employers (E)
- Self-Employment (SE)
- Self-Determination and Career Planning (SDCP)
- Post-Placement Planning and Support (PPPS)
- Systems Change – Embedding New Practice Models (SCENPM)
Course Format
• Delivery Mode: Online modules with assessments, quizzes, practical and online mentoring. Face-to-face and Hybrid are available subject to arrangement.
• Duration: 40 Hours of flexible, self-paced with required and optional mentoring sessions
• Methods: Videos, interactive quizzes, practical exercises, and case studies
• Materials Provided: Digital workbooks, handouts, and templates
• Certification: ACRE Certificate of Completion upon successfully passing quizzes and practical assessments
Target Audience
This course is ideal for employment consultants, disability service providers, career counsellors, job developers, and other professionals working in employment services for individuals with disabilities.
This course offers a rich learning experience through a blend of theory, practical application, and mentoring. It empowers participants to create meaningful employment pathways and support systems for individuals with disabilities.
