Disability Innovation Fund
The Fund is for innovative projects from the employment sector, NGOs or disabled people’s organisations to get disabled people into jobs or to retain them in jobs.
About the Disability Innovation Fund
The Disability Innovation Fund was announced by the Government in November 2011.
We recognise that while disabled people want to work, and can with the right support, their employment rate is about half that of non disabled people. The disabled people that the Fund is designed to assist must not be able to access existing employment programmes and assistance from Work and Income or ACC.
The Fund is available to employers, non-government organisations (NGOs) and disabled people’s organisations (DPOs). The disabled people don’t need to be receiving a benefit.
Innovative proposals
The Innovation Fund is looking for innovative proposals from:
- employers to retain current employees who have an existing disability or who have acquired a disability (including chronic health condition or mental health condition) while employed
- employers to employ disabled people
- the NGOs and disabled people’s organisations DPOs to support disabled people into self employment.
Existing Work and Income programmes
There are a number of programmes and assistance that may be available to support people into employment, see:
How to Apply
If you have any questions please contact Anne Hawker on 04 978 4142 or email Anne.Hawker011@msd.govt.nz
Key Dates
| 16 December 2011 | Applications for the first round of funding must be received. |
| 13 January 2012 | Applications for the second round of funding must be received. |
| 31 January 2012 |
Applications will be reviewed by a panel and decisions on the first funding round Further funding rounds will be announced. |
Decision Making and Timeframe
In considering an application the Ministry may contact any other government department or agency, private person or organisation, and/or request additional information from the applicant.
Decisions will be conveyed by letter and the creation of funding agreements will take place shortly thereafter. No legal relationship between the Ministry and any applicant exists until a funding agreement is signed by both parties.
