New guide makes disability inclusion good for business

The CEO of Settlement Services International (SSI), Violet Roumeliotis, described Pathways to Possibilities: Harnessing the economic potential of people with disability as a practical guide for organisations seeking to maximise the skills and talents of people with disability and dismantle barriers to their employment.

She said at a time when one in three businesses are finding it difficult to fill roles, highly qualified professionals with disability are struggling to break into the workforce.

“There are simple, practical steps organisations of any size can take to level the playing field and tap into this workforce, for the benefit of individuals and businesses,” she said.

“We are calling on businesses to contribute to positive change by committing to making job ads accessible, providing internships and job-sharing opportunities, connecting with disability agencies and more.”

The SSI report outlines four commitments employers can make to break down barriers for employees with disability and those seeking work:

• put disability inclusion at the heart of their business
• become disability confident
• empower leaders to drive change
• create a safe, supportive and accommodating culture for employees.

With unemployment rates for people with disability having barely changed over the past 30 years, the Pathways to Possibilities report also contains 22 practical actions businesses can implement to remove barriers for employees and jobseekers with disability.

Intersectionality – where multiple aspects of a person's identity can lead to overlapping discrimination and marginalisation – can also lead to increased challenges for people with disability.

Roumeliotis said the employment rate for people with disability who were born overseas is just 38.3%, and for First Nations people with disability it is just 28.3%.

She said the recommendations in the report are the result of hard data and consultation with people with lived experience of disability, peak bodies, community organisations and businesses.

She said despite the wealth of available evidence to the contrary, many employers are held back by misconceptions about hiring people with disability.

“Employers often incorrectly assume that hiring people with disability will require costly adjustments,” said Roumeliotis.

“In fact, 88% of Australians with disability do not require any specific workplace adjustments, and for those who do, 60% [of those adjustments] cost nothing.”

Roumeliotis said when employees do need changes that require financial investment, government help such as the Job Access service is available to cover expenses for people who are eligible.

The release of the report follows the Pathways to Possibilities Symposium held in February in partnership with Jobs Australia, National Disability Services (NDS) and the Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce.