Everyone has different levels of contact with people with disability. If you have not previously worked with a person with disability, you may be concerned that you will embarrass yourself or a client with disability by saying or doing the wrong thing. This can lead to uneasiness when meeting a new client with disability or potentially result in misunderstanding and anxiety for you and your client.
Disability awareness training provides facts, research, tips for communication and tips for accommodation within the workplace. It can ensure that:
- you feel at ease when communicating and working with a new client with disability
- new clients with disability feel supported and understood when they commence in your service
- you can educate employers and speak to them about disability awareness issues.
Disability awareness training options and assistance
If you would like to organise disability awareness training for your staff, there are a number of options available to you.
Your peak body
Your peak body may be able to assist you with identifying disability awareness courses (please note that these links will take you to an external web site in a new window):
The Learning Centre
The Learning Centre is an e-learning tool that allows Australian Government employment service providers to access hands on training modules, such as 'Mental Health Awareness' and 'Disability and Employment'. Each topic concludes with an online quiz that allows you to test your knowledge. You can even subscribe to a module so that you are notified by email if the module changes.
The Learning Centre is a part of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ secure Employment and Community Services Network web environment and you can begin training as soon as you have a Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations User Id and password (see our Related Links).
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is developing new training materials as part of its work on capability building for employment service providers in working with people with a disability. Training materials such as online disability awareness training will form part of the wider capability training as part of the ‘Helping people move into Work’ initiative.
Employer organisations or consultancy services
Contact employer organisations, such as the Australian Network on Disability, or consultancy services, such as Diversity@work, regarding their ability to provide you and your staff with disability awareness training. See our Related Links for more information.
Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace e-learning course
One of the main obstacles people with mental illness face is the attitude of others.
Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace courses can give you and your staff a greater understanding of mental illness and how people with mental illness can be supported in the workplace and the wider community. For further information, visit:
Disability Awareness HR Management Online Seminar
This is a free online seminar covering diversity training specific to disability awareness for human resource professionals. Through this seminar you will have the opportunity to learn more about current history, myths and facts, research, tips for communication, tips for interviewing and tips for accommodations. Please note that this link will take you to an external web site in a new window:
JobAccess
JobAccess Advisers are also able to provide you with information and assistance on disability awareness issues. Contact the JobAccess Advisers on 1800 464 800 or online: