For Michael, being a self-employed handyman is more than just a job. It’s a way to stay active, help others, and support his family. Each day is different, from fixing fences and mowing lawns to installing grab rails in homes for people with disability. “I run my own business doing handyman work and garden maintenance. Every day is different. One day I might be outside hedging or mowing lawns,…, Get Started with JobAccess, As of 2025, we’ve helped almost 500,000 Australians and many businesses. Whether you're a jobseeker, employer, or service provider, we can help you. Explore our free resources at: https://www.jobaccess.gov.au/ Call our expert advisers: 1800 464 800 Together, we can create a more inclusive workforce for all.
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Stories
Creating an inclusive workplace for employees with disability isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes good business sense. By making small but meaningful changes, you can: Keep staff for longer Build a stronger team culture and bring in new perspectives. Here are some simple steps you can take with help from JobAccess., 1. Make workplace adjustments standard practice, You must provide reasonable adjustments for employees with disability. This could include: adaptive equipment flexible work hours or changes to work routines. These adjustments help employees fully take part in their job. To make this easier, you can use the Workplace Adjustment Passport from JobAccess. It’s an easy way to record agreed changes and share them with managers., 2. Create tailored support plans, Each employee has unique needs, so having a clear support plan helps ensure adjustments are understood and applied consistently. For practical guidance on having these conversations, use the Making Workplace Adjustments Easy, Effective and Equitable – Conversation Guide . It provides step-by-step advice to help you, and your employees agree on the right adjustments., 3. Use the JobAccess Employer Toolkit, The Employer Toolkit gives you access to free resources that cover: Inclusive language and job design Accessible recruitment strategies Practical tips for inclusive team management. These tools are ready to go. They make it easy to include inclusive practices in your business., 4. Get funding with the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF), You don’t have to cover workplace changes alone. The Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) provides funding for things like assistive technology, Auslan interpreting, or training. By using the EAF, you can make adjustments faster and at no cost to your business., 5. Benefits of hiring people with disability, Hiring people with disability is good for business. Employers consistently report benefits such as: higher staff retention more diverse ideas and a more inclusive workplace., 6. Lead by example, Inclusive workplaces start with leadership. By setting the tone, you can build a culture where mental health and disability inclusion are supported. JobAccess provides guidance on communication, supervisor responsibilities, and managing disability at work., 7. Understand legal rights and responsibilities, As an employer in Australia, you need to be across your obligations under the Fair Work Act and the Disability Discrimination Act . These laws give employees rights such as flexible work arrangements and protection from discrimination. Knowing your legal responsibilities helps you make policies that protect you and build trust and fairness., Get support today, Building an inclusive workplace starts with one step. Contact us on 1800 464 800 to speak to our team or submit an online enquiry today.
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News
'I have suffered from depression. But this job has got me moving and got me out of that black hole.' Two terrible accidents left Michael with permanent and severe injuries. Walking is difficult for him now. But support through JobAccess gave him a way to get around a chance to get back into work and life. 'I really thought: Well that's never going to happen - there's so much paperwork. But it…
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Carousel
Waterfalls Café owner Rachel Power has seen how creating an accessible and welcoming workplace can make a big difference. ‘It’s something that I think every business should consider doing … the rewards for the people I hire and my business outweigh any extra effort.’ By making a few changes to support its staff, Waterfalls is one café that is keeping staff for longer. But for Rachel, watching how…
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Carousel
Welcome to the Employer Toolkit - your one stop shop for all matters relating to disability employment. Through short video lessons and downloadable resources, you'll be empowered to hire people with disability and understand the necessary steps you need to take.
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Employer Toolkit Landing Page
Whether you’re thinking about hiring a person with disability for the first time or have employees with disability already, there are a few things you need to know to make sure your practices are fair and accessible.
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Employer Toolkit Landing Page
Sarnya’s journey from the corporate world to Paralympics and now as a self-employed business owner has been driven by her passion for helping people. See how JobAccess supported Sarnya with simple adjustments to help her pursue her business and drive to help., From Paralympics to running a business, Sarnya is self-employed, running her own massage and therapy clinic Klemzig Massage and Health , in South Australia. Before pursuing her career as a Remedial Massage and Bowen Therapist, Sarnya worked for a large telecommunications company and competed as a Paralympian. Sarnya is legally blind and represented Australia at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, competing in Track Cycling and winning two…, Working with JobAccess for workplace adjustments, Sarnya learned about JobAccess through a friend who used the service for advice and support with workplace adjustments. As a self-employed business owner, Sarnya contacted JobAccess directly to discuss her adjustments and apply for funding to purchase the adjustments through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) . After submitting a funding application through the JobAccess website, Sarnya was…, Contact JobAccess for advice and support with workplace adjustments, Contact JobAccess on, 1800 464 800, to speak to our Advisers for expert, confidential and tailored advice on workplace adjustments. You can also submit an online enquiry through our website.
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Stories
October 10 is World Mental Health Day (WMHD). This year’s theme is ‘Mental health is a universal human right'. World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone's mental health., Mental health and work: interesting statistics, One in five Australians aged 16 – 85 experienced a mental health condition in the last 12 months, , while, 44% of Australians have experienced a mental health condition at some point in their life, ., According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare,, anxiety disorders, are the most common type of mental health condition, affecting, one in six Australians, . When we look at the mental health of people with disability,, 32% of adults living with disability experience high or very high levels of psychological distress, compared to 8% for those without disability, ., If you look around your workplace today,, one in five of your colleagues, (or 20% of your workforce) could be experiencing poor mental health. Beyond Blue’s, Heads Up Initiative, found that, having a mentally healthy workplace was the second most important factor in an employee’s decision to accept a new position, , after the monetary remuneration on offer. We know that work is a key source to improve and support our mental health and with, many people spending more than a third of their life at work, ,, it is incredibly important to create and promote a mentally healthy workplace, with a culture that encourages conversations about mental health., Benefits of mentally healthy workplace, Did you know that untreated mental health conditions cost employers $10.9 billion every year, through absenteeism, reduced productivity and increased compensation claims? Providing a mentally healthy, inclusive and diverse workplace reflective of the society we live in, makes a good business sense. A mentally healthy workplace: improves employee productivity improves commercial outcomes helps attract and retain staff, How does JobAccess support mentally healthy workplaces, JobAccess provides various supports to employers, and people living with mental health conditions. Some of them include: Employers can, speak with a JobAccess Adviser, on, 1800 464 800, , to access tailored advice on workplace adjustments, modifications, one on one counselling and awareness training’ specifically to their workplace needs. Employers can visit the, JobAccess Employer Toolkit, which includes free, on-demand and practical resources covering all aspects of disability employment, including mental health. This free toolkit is designed to build employer confidence and equip organisations with the skills to effectively manage common mental health conditions at work. JobAccess can organise, on-the-job training, , funded through the, Employment Assistance Fund (EAF), , for managers and employees with mental health conditions. The EAF can provide up to $1500 per annum to employers for each eligible employee, to conduct mental health awareness training at the workplace. This training is delivered by qualified professionals with specialist expertise, increasing awareness, reducing stigma, improving attitudes, as well as increasing the confidence of employers and…, Funding for professional counselling by a registered psychologist, , where the counselling will assist the person in carrying out their job duties. Most assistance is in response to depression, stress, mood disorders, anxiety and anger management issues., How businesses can encourage a mentally healthy workplace, A healthy workplace benefits all employees including those living with mental health conditions. Here are some helpful tips that can help businesses to create a mentally healthy workplace: Providing an Employee Assistance Program, offering your workforce with access to free counselling. Arranging additional one to one meetings. Ensuring your management team have completed mental health awareness…, Contact JobAccess to discuss your specific needs and requirements. Our team of experts are here to help develop and implement good practice in building mentally healthy workplaces. Visit, www.jobaccess.gov.au, for more information.
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News
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Downloads
The Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) provides reimbursements to an Applicant for workplace modifications, equipment and services necessary for a person with disability to perform their employment duties. The EAF can help people whether they are working, about to start work, or self-employed. , What can you use the EAF for?, The EAF can fund changes related to workplaces, equipment and support services. This includes covering the cost of things like: Building modifications – such as automatic doors, lighting changes and ramps changes to work vehicles special equipment – including braille printers, joysticks or mouse alternatives and headsets assistive technology and communication devices – such as a hearing loop…, Who can use the EAF?, The EAF is to support eligible people with disability who are working, about to start work, or self-employed. Find out more at Who is eligible for the EAF . To use the EAF you need to apply. You can apply if you’re: an employer an employee self-employed a job seeker a service provider. Read more about the application process at Applying for the EAF ., The application process, You apply for the EAF online through JobAccess Secure . To fill in the online form, you’ll need a few details about: the business and employer the employee’s start date the equipment, changes or services you need, including the cost if you know it., Step 1, You put in an application for the EAF., Step 2, JobAccess assesses the application. This can take up to 10 working days., Step 3, JobAccess lets you know if the application will go ahead and if you need a workplace assessment. If you do, JobAccess will arrange it for you for free., Step 4, After you get approval, you buy the items and services., Step 5, JobAccess pays back the costs. You can find more details about the process and the information you need to apply at Applying for the EAF . You can also download our step-by-step instructions for filling out the form in JobAccess Secure., Getting a workplace assessment, You can get a free workplace assessment through the EAF to help work out what changes or equipment will best support the employee. This is called a Workplace Modification Assessment. You usually need an assessment if you apply for more than $1,000 of funding through the EAF. Read more about getting a workplace assessment.
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Articles
