People with disability bring a variety of skills, talents and abilities to any workplace.
People with disability can be successful in all areas of the workforce. Many are tertiary or trade qualified and hold senior managerial positions. People with disability who are currently employed, work across many occupations:
- 37 per cent are professionals, managers and administrators
- 30 per cent are clerical sales and service workers
- 33 per cent are from remaining occupational categories including tradespeople, production, and transport workers as well as labourers and related workers (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2003).
Although most people with disability want to work, some employers may have concerns about employing people with disability. As a result, people with disability often find it hard to break down these barriers to recruitment.
Apprenticeships and traineeships
When considering what sort of work would be suitable for a job seeker with disability, you may wish to suggest an apprenticeship or traineeship. There is additional support available for apprentices and trainees with disability and their employers:
Running a business
There is support available to eligible unemployed people to help them start their own business. This support is available through the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme. Research has shown New Enterprise Incentive Scheme participants with disability have very good chances of success with 78.2 per cent still employed after completing the Scheme (Department of Employment and Workplace Relations 2007).
Employment Assistance Fund
While the majority of employees with disability won’t require any workplace modifications, for some job seekers and workers, the barrier preventing them from doing a job is a workplace that does not accommodate them. The Employment Assistance Fund aims to make accommodating employees with disability in the workplace easier.
Employers may be eligible for financial assistance to make workplace modifications for employees with disability. The Employment Assistance Funds pays for the costs involved in modifying the workplace or purchasing special equipment for employees with disability.
Further ideas for adjustments and modifications
The Workplace Adjustment Tool contains practical ideas and solutions aimed at supporting people with disability as they complete a vast array of activities and tasks in the workplace. The tool links you to suppliers of products and solutions in your state.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2004, Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings 2003, Cat. No. 4430.0, viewed 23 May 2006, http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/Lookup/978A7C78CC11B702CA256F0F007B1311/$File/44300_2003.pdf.
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations 2007, New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS): For client groups, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Canberra, viewed 27 March 2007, http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Category/SchemesInitiatives/NEIS/Forclientgroups.htm.