What is Customised Employment? | Creative solutions | employment
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| Creative solutions | employment
| Free resource
| Article
Do you want a job that fits your interests and needs?
Have you thought about customised employment?
The NDIS is meant to give people with disability choice and control over our lives, including support to find and maintain employment. For people who self-manage and self-direct our NDIS supports, this often means looking beyond traditional disability employment programs that rely on standardised pathways and job placements.
Customised employment offers a different way forward. Instead of trying to fit a person into an existing job, it starts with a simple question: what kind of work suits this person?
I recently spoke with Therese Fimian, who has more than 25 years’ experience working in disability employment in the United States. She is a leader in customised employment and is now bringing this approach to Australia, at a time when many NDIS participants and our families are looking for more flexible, individualised and self-directed pathways to work.
What is customised employment?
Customised employment is highly individualised.
It starts with a process called discovery, not job searching.
Discovery means spending real time getting to know the person. This can take 25 to 40 hours over several weeks.
During discovery, the focus is on:
- strengths and skills,
- interests and preferences,
- what motivates the person,
- the environments where they do their best,
- the supports they need to succeed.
This might include things like lighting, noise, movement, technology, routines, or whether someone prefers working alone or with others.
Only after this happens does the conversation turn to work.
Importantly, customised employment does not start with job titles or position descriptions. It starts with tasks and contributions.
Why tasks matter more than job titles
Job descriptions can be very limiting.
They often assume one “right” way of working and one “ideal” worker.
Customised employment looks at tasks instead:
- What work actually needs to be done?
- Which tasks suit this person’s strengths?
- How could tasks be grouped into a meaningful role?
This opens up many more possibilities for people with disability, especially those who have been told they are “not job-ready” or “too complex” for open employment.
Working with businesses differently
Customised employment also works differently with businesses.
It is not about asking businesses to change everything they do.
It is about having honest and practical conversations about:
- where staff are under pressure,
- what tasks are not getting done,
- where there are unmet needs,
- how work could be done differently.
Therese shared an example of a young man who had previously been in a congregate employment program and wanted inclusive work in the community.
Through discovery, it became clear that he:
- enjoyed physical work,
- liked talking to people,
- wanted to be part of a team,
- was interested in cars.
By working with a local car dealership, a new role was created. The role combined tasks such as welcoming customers, directing cars to the right area, starting routine maintenance processes, and supporting mechanics.
The outcome was:
- meaningful paid work for the individual,
- better productivity for the business,
- happier staff,
- a real sense of belonging.
Why this matters for people with disability
For many people with disability, customised employment is not just a “nice idea”.
It is often the only realistic pathway into employment.
While it can take longer to set up than traditional job placement, the outcomes are often stronger:
- higher job satisfaction,
- better retention,
- work that fits the person, not the system.
In reality, most people customise their jobs over time anyway. We lean into tasks we are good at and avoid those we are not.
Customised employment simply makes this process intentional and accessible for people who need support to get there.
What if there is no provider offering customised employment?
Therese is very clear about this.
There are not enough providers in Australia or the United States who know how to offer customised employment well.
This means many people need to start the process themselves, often with support from family members, trusted allies, or community networks.
Some practical starting points include:
- learning about customised employment,
- doing a form of self-discovery,
- identifying strengths, interests and support needs,
- involving people who know you well and believe in your goals.
One helpful tip is to start noticing tasks in everyday life.
When you are shopping, going to appointments, or spending time in the community, ask:
- What work is being done here?
- What tasks keep this place running?
- Which of these tasks could I do?
These tasks are the building blocks of customised employment.
Bringing customised employment to Australia
Therese will be visiting Australia in February, working with organisations including Family Advocacy, Imagine More, and CRU.
These sessions are designed for people with disability, families, and advocates. They will focus on practical strategies people can use straight away, including how to do discovery and how to turn that information into real employment options.