Employment systems, research & practitioner training
Understanding employment. Creating possibilities.
Better employment opportunities begin with understanding people, workplaces and the systems that connect them.
At CDERP, we draw on years of experience working alongside individuals, practitioners, organisations and decision-makers to explore what makes employment work, and what gets in the way.
We bring together research, practical knowledge and fresh thinking to help organisations ask better questions, strengthen their practice and develop new approaches.
Our work spans research, consulting, professional learning and practical innovation, united by a commitment to creating better employment opportunities.
Consulting & Advisory
Experience, insight and practical solutions.
Every organisation faces challenges that cannot always be resolved through established processes or familiar approaches. Sometimes what is needed is an independent perspective, a better understanding of the problem or the confidence to explore a different way forward.
CDERP works with organisations to examine challenges, identify opportunities and develop practical, evidence-informed responses.
Our consulting and advisory work draws on experience in organisational development, employment services, research, evaluation, professional practice and business improvement.
We bring together analytical thinking and practical experience, working collaboratively with clients to understand their circumstances and develop responses that are appropriate to their needs.
CDERP College
Learning that strengthens practice.
Good professional learning does more than introduce new knowledge. It encourages us to question assumptions, reflect on experience and discover better ways of working.
At CDERP College, we bring together research, practical experience and contemporary thinking to create learning opportunities that are relevant to the challenges professionals and organisations face every day.
Our courses and workshops are developed by people who understand the realities of practice. We recognise that learning is not simply about acquiring new skills, but about building confidence, strengthening professional judgement and finding ways to apply knowledge in different circumstances.
From employment practice and professional counselling to organisational quality and service improvement, our learning opportunities are designed to encourage curiosity, thoughtful reflection and practical application.
Whether you are developing your own capabilities or strengthening those of your organisation, CDERP College offers learning grounded in experience and informed by evidence.
Explore our courses and professional learning opportunities.
Research & Publications
Research that asks better questions.
Understanding why employment works, why it sometimes doesn't, and what might make it better is at the heart of CDERP's research.
Our work draws on practical experience, critical inquiry and collaboration with organisations in Australia and internationally. We explore the relationships between people, employment practices, organisations and the systems that shape their opportunities.
Through independent research, applied studies, evaluations and publications, we examine established approaches, challenge assumptions and contribute new knowledge to employment practice and policy.
We believe research is most valuable when it helps people see familiar problems differently and opens the way to meaningful change.
CDERP Frameworks & Practice Tools
Knowledge developed through practice.
Research and experience have led CDERP to develop a growing collection of frameworks, assessment instruments and practical resources.
Some help us understand the systems that shape employment. Others support professional practice, examine quality and fidelity, or capture the experiences and outcomes of people using employment services.
Each has been developed to address particular questions and challenges, connecting research with practical application.
Understanding Employment Systems
ESME · IEFF View → 02Professional Practice and Counselling
PIE-CF · SCMT · Family Discovery View → 03Quality Assurance and Fidelity
CEQAF · CEFA View → 04Practice Evidence and Reflection
DERS · FERS · IDR-A View → 05Employment Outcomes and Progress
EEOF View →Latest from CDERP
Ideas, insights and developments.
There is always something happening at CDERP. From new research and publications to conversations about employment practice and emerging ideas, we share developments that contribute to better understanding and better ways of working.
Explore some of our latest work, thinking and activities.
Stable Underperformance as a Systems Design Outcome
How employment systems can entrench mediocre outcomes through their own design, and what interrupts the pattern.
About the paper →STRIDE: high-fidelity CE in regional Australia
What high-fidelity Customised Employment looks like in regional practice, and what the evidence shows.
Request the briefing →Disability Employment
Conversations on employment practice and the systems around it, hosted by Dr Peter Smith.
Work with the Centre
Train your people. Change your practice. Build what holds.
Whether you're a practitioner, a provider redesigning under IEA, or a partner interested in becoming a training associate, start the conversation.