Around one in five working age Australians have disability (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2003) and one in five Australian adults experience some form of mental illness every year (Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace: an e-learning course). People with disability therefore make up a significant portion of your staff and customer base.
In Australia, there are also laws about how we interact and treat people with disability. As an employer, you should be aware of your responsibilities to both your employees and customers with disability.
How to create a Disability Action Plan
A Disability Action Plan is a way for you to plan the removal, as far as possible, of discrimination against people with disability. Our step by step guide can help you plan a better workplace so that the needs of your employees and customers with disability are met.
Understanding legislation
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 provides protection for everyone in Australia against discrimination based on disability. As an employer, you should be aware of your responsibilities under the Act.
Mental Health and wellbeing at work
Research shows that depression alone costs the Australian economy $3.3 billion in lost productivity each year (beyondblue 2004). Understanding and managing mental illness in the workplace can help reduce the personal cost to your employers and the financial impact on your organisation. Our fact sheets provide practical advice on planning and managing the mental health of your organisation.
Case studies and success stories
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2003, Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary of Findings, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, viewed 13 May 2007, <http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4430.02003?OpenDocument>.
beyondblue 2004, beyondblue:opening our eyes to the cost of depression in the workplace, beyondblue, Hawthorn West, viewed 10 May 2007, <http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=4.66&oid=418>.
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations 2006, CD ROM, Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace: an e-learning course, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Canberra.