Originally posted by Fairfield City Champion on September 27th

Ian Clare is very aware of how hard it is to get work when you have a disability.

His partner Pamela has a learning disability and he has seen the struggles first-hand.

He also found it challenging finding work because of his health issues (diabetes, heart problems and sleep apnea) which affected his emotional state. In fact he was unemployed for approximately 15 months.

Enter MTC Australia.

They helped me rebuild my confidence,” he said. They provided job search training and helped me with interview techniques because my techniques were outdated.

His renewed confidence led him to start his own Dial A Driver business. Now the Liverpool resident wants to help others.

This week he is driving the CanVan in Fairfield and Liverpool to help others with a disability find work. It’s part of a four week stint he is doing behind the wheel.

The CanVan is an initiative of CoAct – a leading provider of employment services for job seekers with disability – along with social enterprise MTC.

Three CanVans are travelling 10,000 kilometres to more than 30 destinations in Australia as part of the roadshow to help support the more than four million people in Australia who are living with a disability. Their goal is to reach 35,000 people nationally.

The aim is to support people with disability looking for help to find or keep a job as well as employers looking to make their workplaces more diverse and inclusive.

The CanVans are manned by CoAct’s service partners: CHESS Employment, Community Solutions, Skills Plus, MTC, Worklink and Youth Projects who will provide free career advice, personalised job search support coaching and mentoring and interview practice support.

They will also provide one-on-one support for people with disabilities and their carers.

Visitors can enjoy a free coffee made by trainee baristas while they learn how they can find the right job sooner.

In Australia, the unemployment rate for people with a disability is increasing. For people with profound or severe disability aged 15-64, the unemployment rate increased from 10.3 percent in 2012 to 13.7 percent in 2015.

MTC general manager Elena Shestovsky said their purpose is to empower people living with a disability to find work and equip them with all the skills they need and confidence to get back into the workforce.

We know that working is good for your health, and contributes to your happiness, confidence and financial security. This is our ultimate goal for people living with a disability this is why having our CanVan in the community is so important,” she said.