The Good Sammy Open Employment Trials, supported by PRF, piloted new approaches to support people with intellectual disability towards open, award-wage employment in Western Australia. Over two programs, a traineeship and licences trial and a hybrid employment trial, participants received tailored training, real work experience, and ongoing support, all designed to help them gain skills and confidence to pursue employment in inclusive workplaces.
Importantly, the evaluation was co-designed and conducted using inclusive research practices: people with disability were paid advisors, and their stories of significant change were essential to understanding impact. Led independently by researchers from UNSW and UWA, the evaluation combined data analysis and lived experience insights.
The key finding: while few participants transitioned directly into open employment, most increased their skills, confidence, personal income, and optimism for future work. The trials also showed the vital importance of ongoing, person-centred support and demonstrated how lived experience can guide business, service delivery, and sector transformation to forge more inclusive employment pathways.
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