Affiliations: Centre of National Research on Disability and
Rehabilitation Medicine, Griffith University, Meadowbrook, QLD, Australia | Centre for Work, Leisure and Community Research,
Griffith University, Meadowbrook, QLD, Australia
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Nicholas Buys, Griffith
University, Logan Campus, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, Australia.
Tel.: +61 7 33821208; Fax: +61 7 3382 1210; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Over the last two decades self-employment has become an increasingly
attractive option for many individuals, including people with disabilities.
However, anecdotal evidence suggests that vocational rehabilitation service
providers continue to hold negative views about self-employment as a service
delivery option for their clients. Given the lack of Australian research in
this area, this study examined attitudes of rehabilitation counselors towards
self-employment. Data were collected from 143 rehabilitation counsellors across
Australia using a survey instrument developed by Ravesloot and Seekins. Results
indicated that rehabilitation counselors generally held positive attitudes
towards self-employment as a vocational outcome for their clients, providing it
was financially viable and clients possessed requisite social skills. However,
they also reported a lack of organisational support for self-employment as a
placement option. The implications of these results for policy and practice are
discussed, including the need for more government intervention in this area to
encourage rehabilitation providers to offer self-employment to consumers.
