6 May 2002
Budget 2002
Vocational services for people with disabilities will get a funding boost of more than $27 million over the next four
years, Associate Social Services and Employment Minister Ruth Dyson announced today.
A further $17.28 million over four years has been allocated to restore the time-limited funding of two initiatives: a)
the Job Support programme which assists people with disabilities to get and retain paid work, and b) support for around
200 school leavers with very high and complex support needs. Funding for these initiatives was due to run out at the end
of the financial year, and will now continue on a permanent basis.
“This substantial funding package confirms the government’s commitment to provide genuine employment opportunities for
people with disabilities, with the same rights and conditions as other workers,” Ms Dyson said.
The $27.31 million in new funding is made up of $24.58 million to implement the government’s vocational services
strategy, Pathways to Inclusion, and $2.73 million to repeal the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act and revise
the under-rate workers’ permit system.
Allocation of the $24.58 million to implement the vocational services strategy will be: $1.06 million in year one, $2.35
million in year two, $9.28 million in year three, and $11.89 million in year four and thereafter.
Ruth Dyson said the priority for the first two years would be to strengthen and improve current provision of vocational
services. After that, more emphaisis would be placed on developing additional services, particularly in employment.
“The vocational services funding package will help the government to achieve objective 4 of the New Zealand Disability
Strategy: to ‘provide opportunities in employment and economic development for people with disabilities’.
“Repeal of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act 1960 will also pave the way for people with disabilities to be
treated fairly in the workplace. The act gives sheltered workplaces a blanket exemption from minimum wage and holiday
provisions for all their workers. This is unacceptable. When the act is repealed, people with disabilities in an
employment relationship will have the same rights as everyone else.”
Ends