16/04/2026
Long-Term Partnership Between the Job Discovery Program and Goodman Fielder: Building Sustainable Pathways to Employment
The Job Discovery Program (JDP) has developed a long-term strategic partnership with Goodman Fielder to support the sustained transition of young people with disabilities from education into meaningful, long-term employment.
This partnership moves beyond short-term placements to establish a structured and continuous employment pathway. It is designed to align workforce needs with the capabilities of JDP participants, creating a reliable pipeline of trained, work-ready candidates who can transition into stable roles within Goodman Fielder over time.
At the core of the partnership is a commitment to workforce inclusion and development. JDP works closely with Goodman Fielder to understand evolving labor demands and tailor its training curriculum accordingly. This ensures that participants are equipped with relevant technical and soft skills that meet industry standards and workplace expectations.
A key feature of the collaboration is the co-design of transition pathways. Students are supported from early stages of the program through to employment, with clear milestones that include career planning, skills development, workplace readiness, and eventual job placement. Rather than a one-time intervention, participants receive continuous support, including coaching, mentoring, and follow-up after employment to ensure retention and growth.
Goodman Fielder plays an active role in institutionalizing inclusive employment practices within its operations. This includes adapting recruitment processes, providing reasonable accommodations, and strengthening supervisory capacity to support employees with diverse needs. Over time, this contributes to a more inclusive organizational culture and positions the company as a leader in disability-inclusive employment in Fiji.
The partnership also incorporates monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track outcomes such as job placement rates, retention, and career progression. Insights from this data are used to refine both the JDP curriculum and workplace practices, ensuring the model remains responsive and effective.
Importantly, this long-term collaboration contributes to broader systems change. By demonstrating the value of inclusive employment and building a sustainable talent pipeline, the partnership encourages other private sector actors to adopt similar approaches. It shifts perceptions around disability and employment, from charity-based models to capability and productivity-driven inclusion.
Through this sustained partnership, the Job Discovery Program and Goodman Fielder are not only supporting individual transitions into employment but are also contributing to a more inclusive and resilient workforce in Fiji.
