Disabled people work in all sorts of roles and have a range of skills, talents and abilities. Businesses employ disabled people because it makes good business sense. Here are some agencies who can help you find a job.
Every year, Workbridge helps Kiwi jobseekers who have disabilities or health conditions to connect with employers who value their contributions.
We support jobseekers with disabilities or health conditions, as well as employers and workplaces across the country, with more than 75 employment consultants in 22 centres nationwide.
We also administer New Zealand Support Funds on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development.
Workbridge is an incorporated society and a not-for-profit organisation. Our services are free for employers and eligible jobseekers.
https://www.belab.co.nz/be-employed
Our one-of-a-kind employment service connects motivated access citizens with outstanding job opportunities throughout New Zealand.
Tertiary Internship Programme
Coming to the end of, or recently finished study, and looking to find your dream job?
Be. Lab offers a valuable 12-week paid internship for tertiary qualified New Zealanders living with disability, health or mental health conditions or access needs. This is a career pathway programme tailored just to you. Our friendly Talent team will work with you to find meaningful work experience in your area of study or aspiration. We'll provide professional development and ongoing support to ensure you're confident to launch into your new career.
New Start - Paid Work Experience Programme
Just starting out, or need to make a career change? Be. Lab offers a valuable 16-week paid work experience programme for New Zealanders aged 16 and over with a disability, health or mental health conditions or access needs. This is a career pathway programme tailored just to you. Our friendly Talent team will work with you to find meaningful work experience in your area of interest or aspiration. You'll get support and guidance as you take the first step into your new career.
Information to help remove barriers to employment for disabled people.
Disabled people are less likely to be employed than the general population or other minorities. Employment for disabled people is often limited by opportunity and people's attitudes rather than disability. Although one in five working age people in New Zealand have some form of disability, most have little or no barrier to working in some kind of paid employment given the right support. Many highly capable New Zealanders could be part of the workforce if barriers to their employment were removed.
Disability definitions and etiquette
The term 'disability' covers a variety of situations.
The benefits of being a disability confident organisation
Disabled people work in all sorts of roles and have a range of skills, talents and abilities. Businesses employ disabled people because it makes good business sense.
Plan to become a disability confident organisation
A disability confident organisation understands disability and identifies ways to remove barriers to employment and promotion.
Reasonable accommodation (measures)
Making reasonable accommodation helps organisations to confidently recruit, retain and support disabled people.
Information to help organisations become more accessible and communicate effectively with disabled people.
Information to help employers hiring staff not miss out on the potential offered by disabled people.
Actively supporting and keeping disabled employees has benefits for your organisation.
Financial help and wage information for disabled jobseekers and employees, and their employers.
Disability information and resources for employers
Resource material designed specifically to assist employers is freely available.
For further information you can go to the Employment New Zealand site
Ministry of Social development Work Programs
Learn about workplace modifications and assessments, wage subsidies and workplace support. MSD also provide the Lead Toolkit for employers here
The New Zealand Disability Employers’ Network is a network of NZ employers committed to improving their disability inclusion and accessibility practices.
Please contact your nearest Disability Information Centre for local options.
Supported employment initiatives are available in many areas. Check the list below and contact your Disability Information Centre for local options that may also be available.
Abilities Incorporated (Auckland)
Abilities Incorporated employs people with disabilities.
Āhei– Northable (Northland)
Āhei is the employment arm of NorthAble disability services. Together we have expanded our reach to provide young disabled people with internship opportunities across industries and sectors. We support organisations developing diverse and inclusive workforce practices and support our interns in work placements with our partner organisations. It is an opportunity to deep dive into bringing an alternative talent pool to the employment space and modelling next-generation practices that will shape our shifting society and demographics. The programme is open to anyone aged 16-24, who has a disability, seeking to gain work experience
https://www.northable.org.nz/services-pages/ahei-internship-program
Brackenridge (Canterbury)
At Brackenridge, people are our priority, supporting people with learning disabilities and autism to create and lead their lives, their way. Fantastic normal everyday lives where people are included as valued members in our community and live happy and fulfilling lives.
Career Moves (Waikato)
Career Moves is a dedicated, stand-alone, Supported Employment service. It is pan-disability and also supports people with long-term injuries, such as brain and spinal injuries.
Catapult Employment Services Trust (Canterbury)
Catapult Employment Services is an employment service for both employers and jobseekers, that has been helping Cantabrians into employment for over 10 years. We have employment consultants and offer a counselling around anxieties with employment.
CCT (Otago)
We support people with intellectual disabilities and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder to live in their community.
Community Living Trust (Waikato)
Community Living supports 100 people to obtain real meaningful work or to gain the skills to enable them to get a job.
Creativeworks Employment Service (Christchurch)
Creativeworks provides support to people with experience of a mental illness or disability to find employment and then supports them to maintain this for at least six months.
https://emergeaotearoa.org.nz/our-services/employment-support.html
Disability Resource Centre Hawkes Bay Trust
We work to promote opportunities and facilities for the independence, mobility, and recreation of people with disabilities as well as providing occupational, social and personal opportunities and facilities.
Enrich+ (Te Awamutu)
Enrich+ supports individuals to have a ‘life like any other’. Through education, employment and empowerment, we help each person to be a real part of the communities of their choice.
Geneva Elevator
Geneva Elevator is a specialist consultancy service offering a wide range of employment, training and support options to clients with diverse needs in Whangarei, Northshore, South Auckland, Wellington and New Plymouth.
HLC Employment Services (Levin)
IDEA Services Ltd
IDEA Services provides residential, vocational, behaviour support, supported employment, supported living and other support to people with intellectual disabilities throughout New Zealand.
Imagine Better
Imagine Better has a National reach around Aotearoa and is active on a number of fronts including but not limited to providing a range of supports, workshops, training and resources directly to families of disabled people.
Mahi Tika – Equity in Employment
Mahi Tika is a disabled-led employment programme designed to enhance the employment journey of disabled people in the Waikato region to be working or training in the industry of their choice while improving equity in the employment of disabled people.
https://www.dpa.org.nz/mahitika
Manaaki Ability Trust (Hutt Valley)
Manaaki Ability Trust provides services that include transition from school, vocational support, community participation and centre-based and facilitated programmes.
www.manaakiabilitytrust.org.nz
Manawatu Supported Living Trust (Options)
Options is a supported living agency, based in Palmerston North, which is committed to delivering services and supports in a manner that fit each person’s needs and aspirations.
Matea Trust (Auckland)
On a rural block in Dairy Flat, just north of Albany, we provide employment opportunities for men with intellectual disabilities in our firewood business. We also offer work experience opportunities to students preparing to leave school and enter the workforce.
Poly-Emp Employment and Advisory Service (Auckland)
Poly-Emp Employment & Advisory Service is a Charitable Trust that assists people with learning disabilities to find paid employment and reach their full potential in their chosen career.
Southland Disability Enterprises
The overriding objective of Southland Disability Enterprises Ltd is to increase the participation of people with disabilities in employment and in their community’.
Employable (Workstar Nelson)
Employable is a specialist Supported Employment Agency that has served the Nelson economy well for over twenty-five years servicing over 1500 people. Our professional employment service provides free ongoing support.
Work Opportunities (Otago)
We are a Supported Employment Service Provider in Dunedin.
Some of these services are localised and the best way to find one is to contact the Disability Information Centre in the area you live.
