The Centre for Disability Employment Research and Practice (CDERP) was established over a decade ago as Australia’s independent Centre of Excellence in Disability Employment. Born out of the urgent need to bridge the gap between research and practice, CDERP delivers solutions that tackle real-world challenges, equipping practitioners, informing policymakers, empowering families, and supporting Australians with disability and employers alike.

Today, disability employment is evolving rapidly, reshaped by the complexities of the NDIS, shifting DES models, and international commitments under the UNCRPD. CDERP stands at the forefront of this transformation. Through an applied research framework and an extensive global network, we develop evidence-driven solutions that are deeply contextualised to the Australian environment while benchmarked against the highest international standards.

Our work is anchored in pioneering systems that integrate Customised Employment (CE) as a whole-of-system strategy, not just as a practitioner technique, but as a lever for sustainable workforce participation. By embedding the Psychologically Informed Employment Counselling Framework (PIE-CF) and shaping fidelity and quality through tools like CEOFECT and CEQAF, we create an ecosystem where individuals build both employment skills and psychological capacity to thrive.

This approach culminates in our internationally recognised training and capacity-building programs. Delivered through CDERP College, we offer a portfolio of disability employment qualifications, including our flagship CDERP Customised Employment Professional (CCEP) certification, developed with the support of our technical partners; Griffin Hammis Associates, the global pioneers of CE. As the only ACRE-accredited provider outside the United States, we ensure our curricula meet rigorous ACRE/APSE 1st Competency standards, continuously refined through practitioner feedback and emerging evidence.

Through our Work First Customised Employment partnerships, we empower service providers to implement world-class Discovery and Customised Employment. At the same time, our financial models, organisational fidelity tools, and ESME framework drive systemic reform by aligning provider incentives, government funding sustainability, and participant outcomes.

Our impact is globally recognised. The Zero Project has affirmed that our work is “directly aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. By addressing the needs and rights of persons with disabilities, you are contributing to the global effort to create a more just, equitable, and inclusive society, a world with zero barriers.” (August 2024).

In an era demanding real-world expertise, academic rigour, and solutions that are both peer-reviewed and practice-proven, CDERP stands alone. Talk to us today to explore how we can partner to transform disability employment outcomes in your organisation, your community, and across Australia.