Skip to main content

Building blocks to employment

Bring the elements for successful employment together and draw on the evidence base for ‘what works’ in preparing for, finding, and keeping a job. 

Discover the building blocks

Last updated: 23 Oct 2025

A young tradesperson with a kneeling down on a construction site. They have a prosthetic on their left foot.

What are the ‘building blocks’ along the journey to employment?

There are different ‘building blocks’ along the journey to employment. The set of building blocks will be different for each person depending on where they are on this employment journey. Each building block offers a set of evidence-based strategies and activities that have been shown to increase the likelihood of finding and keeping a job that is a good fit for the person with disability and their employer. Building block activities should be selected and tailored to the preferences, aspirations and needs of each person. 

User tip

Different activities suit each person depending on their circumstances. While some appear to be sequential stages of support, they can be delivered in any order and repeated as needed. Evidence shows that that combining these supports helps jobseekers achieve the best outcomes.

Key strategies for success

Draw on the guidance within each building block in the areas of: 

A young person applying makeup to another person. The young person is smiling but focused on the task.
Building Block
Laying foundations for work
Build expectations and experience about work and plan for what happens after secondary school.
A young worker and their manager sitting together having a discussion in an office setting.
Building Block
Getting to know the jobseeker
Identify the jobseeker’s strengths, needs, and preferences – their ‘conditions for success’ (including reasonable adjustments) – and match these to an…
A worker in a restaurant setting stacking a set of plates.
Building Block
Skills development
Create continuous opportunities for people to build and grow their skills.
Two workers in an office setting have a conversation. One worker has glasses and has a smile on their face.
Building Block
Employer engagement and capability building
Build strong, long-term relationships with employers so their workforce needs can be effectively matched with the skills and aspirations of jobseekers with…
Two people having a conversation in an outside space. One person is sitting in a wheelchair.
Building Block
Job development and placement
Use a tailored approach to match the employer’s needs with the jobseeker’s skills, strengths, and preferences, while shaping roles that that provide the best…
A tradesperson who is wearing safety goggles, they are using a machine to cut material.
Building Block
Ongoing support and career progression
Provide tailored assistance to both the employee and employer for as long as needed to ensure job placements are successful and lead to opportunities for…
Guide
Supported employment: a phase-by-phase guide
The Supported Employment Quality Framework is an evidence-based model that has been used successfully for decades to support people with disability,…

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures and to the elders past and present.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2025
Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0(Opens in a new tab/window)

Return focus to the top of the page