Knowing what to say about your disability at a job interview can be challenging. We’ve put together tips on when to mention your disability, what to talk about, and ways to deal with some common concerns from employers., Why mention your disability at an interview?, You should tell the employer about your disability if it might affect: how you do the job your ability to work safely your ability to help keep your co-workers safe. Mentioning your disability can create trust and an open relationship with your employer. But if your disability won’t affect your ability to do the job or to work safely, you don’t have to mention it. It is your choice., Mentioning your disability before the interview, If you do need or choose to mention any disabilities, it can be a good idea to bring it up before the interview. For example, if you want to: ask about what support the organisation has for employees with disability get a sense of whether the organisation is a fair employer ask about access to the building and any help you need to take part in the interview. For more information on arranging help…, What information to discuss, You only need to give information about how your disability may affect how you do the job. You don’t need to talk about specific personal information. You might talk about: your skills and strengths and examples of how you manage your work changes to the workplace you might need to support you side effects of any medications that could affect your work at certain times any pain management or time…, Keeping it positive, If you do mention your disability, it can also be a chance to show your skills, knowledge and creativity. This could include giving examples of: any assistive technology you use methods you use to manage your time ways you work as part of a team any issues you faced in past workplaces and how you worked with your employer to find solutions., Financial help for changes in the workplace, If you might need adjustments to help you do the job, you can tell the employer about the Employment Assistance Fund . This can help cover the costs of changes to workspaces or buying equipment and assistive technology., Responding to employer concerns, We know there are many benefits of employing people with disability . But some employers may have little experience with disability in the workplace. Some employers might also say they hired someone with disability before but it didn’t work out well. Shift the focus by: explaining to the employer that you have thought about how you will do all the tasks needed for the job talking about your…, Gaps in your work history, If you have gaps in your work history, you can explain these in a number of ways. For example: mention any study, volunteer work or other activities you did mention time you spent on personal development. It’s not unusual for people to have gaps in employment for a range of reasons. It’s important to make it clear to the employer that you’re able and eager to work now., Slower work rates, Some employers might say that they can’t afford to hire people with disability because they work too slowly. The truth is that most people with disability improve productivity levels. If you’re concerned about how much you can do at work because of your disability, you and the employer may consider the Supported Wage System . If you’re eligible, you can get an assessment to decide on fair pay…, Negative responses from customers or co-workers, Some employers might worry about how customers will react to an employee with disability. Some might think a person with disability will not fit in with their co-workers. There is a lot of information employers can access if needed to help improve disability awareness. You could also point them to some of the benefits of employing people with disability . For example: people with disability build…, Your privacy, Information about your disability is personal and you have the right for this information to be kept private. If you think someone involved in an interview hasn’t kept your personal details private, you have the right to complain. Visit How your personal information is protected for more information. You can find out more about the Privacy Act at the Office of the Australian Information…
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If you mention your disability at a job interview, the employer can only ask questions about how it might affect how you do the job and work safely. You also have the right to privacy., What employers can ask about your disability, At a job interview, an employer can ask about: changes to the workplace that will help you do the job – these are also called reasonable adjustments changes to work hours or rosters to help you in the role keeping the workplace safe for you and everyone else. The employer can’t ask personal questions about your lifestyle. They also can’t ask you general questions about your disability or your…, Examples of questions your employer can ask, Will you need any flexible arrangements so you can do your job? Will you need us to make any changes in the workplace ? Do you have ideas about good ways to do your job? Do you have ideas for making your workplace safe? Do you take any medication that might make it unsafe for you to do the job? How will you let us know about medical appointments so we can change your work roster?, Examples of questions your employer can’t ask, Do you take of lot of medication? Are you sick a lot? How many times a year do you go to the doctor? Are you going to be able to cope? Does your disability make you get angry with other people? Have you ever lost a job because of your disability?, Your privacy, You have the right for your personal information to be kept private. The employer can’t talk to anyone else about your disability unless you give your permission. For more information, visit How your personal information is protected . You can find out more about the Privacy Act at the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website.
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Access advice, information and funding to support people with disability, employers and service providers. About us
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You can ask for help to take part in a job interview if you need it because of a disability. This might include help with communication, extra time or transport., What kind of help can you get?, Getting support can help make sure you have an equal chance during the interview process. For example : if you are deaf or hearing impaired, you might need a sign language interpreter at the interview if you have autism, you might ask for the interview questions in advance so you have more time to think about them if you are vision impaired, you might ask for more instructions and extra time to…, What employers must do, The employer has to take your disability into account for the interview. This is the law. That includes taking steps to support you in the process. If the employer wants advice about how to make reasonable adjustments, they can: contact our JobAccess Advisers on 1800 464 800 find out more on our website., Organising a sign language interpreter for an interview, If you need an Auslan interpreter with you at your interview, your disability employment service (DES) provider can help organise this. If you don’t have a DES provider, you may be able to get funding for an Auslan interpreter through the Employment Assistance Fund . You usually need to book interpreters for at least 2 hours. If the work lasts for more than an hour, or is particularly difficult,…
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Whether you’ve just finished school or you’re changing roles, there’s a lot to consider when you’re starting a new job. Make a positive start with our advice on settling in and getting set up in your new workplace.
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It’s normal to feel nervous when you’re starting a new job, especially if it’s your first job or you’ve had a long break from work. Each workplace is different but there are some things you can expect and plan for., Before your first day, Check you have all the information you need to get ready to start., Where to go, – make sure you know where you need to go on your first day and how you’ll get there. If this is a new route, it’s worth getting familiar with the amount of traffic going the same way, or how busy and accessible public transport is., Plan to arrive early, - find out about parking, if you need it. You might need to allow more time for things like checking into security on the first day., Contacts, – make a note of who you need to ask for when you arrive on your first day., Dress code, – find out what kind of clothes you should wear or if there’s a uniform. Give yourself time to buy or borrow any items you might need., Local facilities, – you might want to ask what facilities are on site, such as a lunch room or fridge. Or what’s nearby, like shops or cafes for lunch., What to bring, – ask what documents and information you might need to bring. For example, your bank and tax details. Check if you need to bring any of your own equipment to do your job., Remote setup, – if you’ll be working from home, check what technology you need and what your employer will provide. For more advice, visit the Fair Work website Starting a new job page. You can download a guide and checklist and take a short free online course., Your first few days, Some employers run formal orientation programs to introduce new employees to the workplace. This is also called ‘onboarding’ or ‘induction’. Even if there isn’t a formal orientation, there are a few things you’ll likely need to do as you settle into your new job., Paperwork, – your employer will usually have forms to fill out. For example, for your bank account, tax and superannuation details. There may also be other documents to look at or sign., Your role, – check the details of your job description. Ask any questions you need to as you learn the tasks in your job., Work health and safety, – there will usually be training about health and safety in your workplace. This will include any rules you need to follow., Emergencies, – you should find out about what to do in an emergency, including any evacuation plans. If you think you may need assistance during an evacuation you should speak to your supervisor. , Policies, and procedures, – get to know the workplace policies and processes. This might include rules about using mobile phones and other devices during work hours. Check what the process is if you’re sick or running late for work., Support at work, – find out who you should speak to if you need help. Some workplaces have a mentor or buddy system, where another employee will support you as you learn. Your employer might also have other support programs, like free counselling. When starting any new job, it's also good to be aware of your rights and responsibilities . This includes understanding privacy, discrimination and work health and…, Getting support, If you need an Auslan interpreter to be at an induction program, your Disability Employment Service (DES) provider can help arrange this. If you don’t have a DES provider, you may be able to get funding for an interpreter through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) . The EAF can help pay for changes to the workplace, equipment or services to support people with disability to do their job. Talk…
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Sometimes when we hire people with disability, adjustments need to be made. Find out about the different supports and services available through JobAccess to make these changes.
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Flexible working arrangements, such as changed hours and working from home, may help you find a better work-life balance. Flexibility may also benefit the organisation you work for., What are flexible working arrangements?, Flexible working arrangements are changes to your standard work arrangement. You agree with your employer or supervisor to these changes. There are many ways work arrangements can be flexible. This will depend on the person and the job. For example: having regular breaks if you have pain or fatigue changing your start and finish times taking unpaid leave having a say about your work schedule…, Benefits of flexibility, Flexible working arrangements can help you have a better work-life balance. For example, flexibility can let you: go to medical appointments make a regular time with your carer that suits you both manage care for children or others manage stress, anxiety or pain focus on tasks without distractions, if working from home. Flexible working arrangements are good for employers too. They help…, Working from home, Many employers allow staff to work from home as part of their flexible working arrangements. This is sometimes a ‘hybrid’ arrangement. For example, working from home 2 days a week, and at the workplace for the other days. Whether you can work from home will depend on the type of work you do. If you have just started a new job, your employer may want you to work full time at the workplace for a…, Working from home agreements, If you are asking to work from home, it’s a good idea to make an agreement with your employer so it’s clear who is responsible for what. Your agreement could include: who will buy or provide any equipment, such as a computer or office furniture how often you need to go in to the workplace how and when you must ‘check in’ with your manager and co-workers – for example through daily online…, Safety issues at home, If you are working from home, you need to consider basic safety issues. These include: having enough light in your work area having good air flow and fresh air working in an area that is not too noisy keeping equipment safe, well maintained and in good order. Your employer could be responsible if you have an injury while working from home. They may want to do a work health and safety check of…, Assistance for home modifications, If you are working from home and need to make changes to do your job, you may be eligible to get help from the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) . The EAF can help people with disability cover the cost of modifications to workspaces, equipment and services., Agreeing to changes with your employer, If you think flexible work arrangements would help you do your job, discuss it with your supervisor or manager. Think about: what changes to your work arrangements will meet your needs how the arrangements might affect your co-workers how the changes benefit everyone how the changes help you get more work done and meet your employer’s needs. Remember to be open to different options. Your employer…, Support from human resources, If you work for a larger organisation, the Human Resources (HR) area might be able to help you talk to your supervisor. They can give you advice about: your rights options for changes to your work arrangements any company policies. You can also talk to HR about issues you’re not comfortable talking with your supervisor about. The Fair Work Ombudsman website also provides information on the rules…
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If you or someone you know is in danger, call 000 if you need urgent help from police, fire or ambulance services. If you need crisis support, please visit the Emergency Contacts page. JobAccess supports a number of ways for you to make a complaint or to report abuse or neglect of people with disability. This section can help you with: Complaints about disability, employment or advocacy services…
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You can work with your employer to make changes in the workplace to support you to do your job. These types of changes are called ‘reasonable adjustments’., What are reasonable adjustments?, Reasonable adjustments help give people with disability fair access to employment. They are also called workplace adjustments or workplace modifications. In the workplace, this might include: physical changes to your work area and workplace equipment or services changes to tasks or the way you work. You might find even simple changes will meet your needs. By law your employer must take your…, Examples of changes, Changes to work areas and workplaces, Examples of physical changes include: a desk you can change the height of, for example to fit a wheelchair underneath a parking space close to the workplace entrance better lighting if you have vision impairment moving a desk or using screens to reduce noise and distractions more accessible toilets., Equipment, technology and services, Equipment or services might include: lifting equipment to help you safely lift heavy objects assistive technology like screen reading software Auslan interpreters to support you in training sessions if you are Deaf or have hearing loss., Changes to work methods, You might find it helpful to make changes to the way you work or create tools that will support you. For example: if you need support with memory, you could work with your employer to create written instructions, task lists, labels, prompts or reminders if you need support with organising your time, talk to your employer about creating clear daily routines if you have anxiety, you might ask for…, Changes to tasks, Your job might include some tasks that you can’t do or can’t do fully because of a disability or health condition. Discuss with your employer ways you might modify your work tasks to suit your strengths and how these might change over time. One way to change tasks is to swap some of them with a co-worker. For example, if you have a back injury, you could swap lifting and carrying duties with…, Talking to your employer about workplace changes, If you know that you need workplace adjustments, talk with your employer about your needs and ideas. If you don’t feel confident doing this alone, ask someone to support you. For example: a co-worker your DES provider human resources staff. If you or your employer would like more information about workplace adjustments, you can contact one of our JobAccess Advisers., Financial help with changing the workplace, You may be able to get funding to cover the costs of changes to the workplace through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF). You can also apply for a free workplace assessment to help decide what adjustments you need. For all the details, go to Funding for changes in the workplace .
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