Jan Davis

​In 2016, Jan was awarded an International VET Practitioner Fellowship that would reshape the landscape of disability employment in Australia. Working at Holmesglen Institute with young people with disabilities, she noticed a significant gap between the preparation provided by foundation-level courses and actual employment outcomes.

 

On her Fellowship, Jan spent a month in London, visiting five industry sites running Project SEARCH, a program that prepares young people with significant disabilities for success in competitive integrated employment. What she witnessed was nothing short of inspiring – students with disabilities, much like those she worked with in Australia, thriving in workplace immersion programs.

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Empowered by her experiences abroad, Jan returned to Australia with a clear mission. Armed with her ISS Institute Fellowship knowledge and the support of Holmesglen, she adapted the internship model to fit the Australian context. A pivotal moment came when she connected with Mike O’Brien, then Chief of Surgery at the Royal Children’s Hospital, who enthusiastically embraced the program.

 

In 2018, Jan launched a pilot program at the Royal Children’s Hospital with ten students. The program’s structure was innovative:

• Students spent their first term on campus for a gentle transition

• Three rotations of nine weeks each in different hospital departments

• Daily support from Jan as the teacher-mentor and an employment coach

   

Results from the pilot program were remarkable, as there was an:

• 80% employment rate after six months

• 100% initial employment retention rate

• 70 -75% retention rate by the end of the following year

 

The success of the pilot led to its continuation at the Royal Children’s Hospital in 2019, and its extension to Royal Melbourne Hospital and Active Monash in 2020.

By the end of 2023, over 100 students had gone through the program.

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In 2024, she co-founded Aequis Talent, with a mission to provide an end-to-end journey for people with disabilities seeking meaningful employment.

 

The impact of Jan's work has extended beyond employment statistics. She's transformed the lives of her students and their families, and her program was successful in winning the Industry Collaboration Award at the Victorian Training Awards. Her story is a testament to the power of vision, perseverance, and the belief that everyone deserves the right to meaningful employment.

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