Inclusive Employment in Action: Ellen's Role with the University of Sydney’s SIM Program
Down Syndrome NSW’s Employment Connections program is proud to share a powerful example of inclusive employment in action. Ellen, a member of our community, has been successfully employed as a simulated patient in the University of Sydney’s SIM Program – an innovative training initiative for health students.
The SIM Program is designed to build communication skills and professional practice among students studying health disciplines, such as Occupational Therapy. In 2025, the University of Sydney reached out to our Employment Connections team, seeking to create a more inclusive learning environment by integrating people with intellectual disability into their training.
Our team promoted the opportunity via our website and social media channels, and Ellen was soon engaged in open employment. With the support of the Employment Connections program, Ellen received workplace training and ongoing guidance to help her succeed in the role.
As a simulated patient, Ellen plays an essential part in helping students develop inclusive communication strategies in realistic clinical scenarios. Importantly, students also receive feedback directly from Ellen, gaining invaluable insights from her lived experience. This contributes to a deeper understanding, greater empathy, and improved confidence in working with people with intellectual disability – skills that will positively impact their future professional practice.
This partnership aligns strongly with Down Syndrome NSW’s mission to create real and meaningful employment opportunities for people with Down syndrome in mainstream settings. Ellen’s success in the SIM Program is an inspiring example of how inclusive employment can benefit not only the individual, but also the broader community – in this case, future health professionals.
We are thrilled to share that Ellen has been re-engaged for the second semester of 2025, and the program is expanding to include a second person with Down syndrome. The University is also undertaking research to evaluate the long-term benefits of embedding lived experience into student training through meaningful employment.
This is more than a job – it’s a step forward in reshaping professional education and promoting a future where inclusion is the standard, not the exception.
