Higher Employment Priority for People With Disability

Concrete measures must be taken to lift Australia from its woeful record of 21 out of 29 OECD countries for employment of people with disability, according to the Australia Network on Disability.

Australia Network on Disability CEO, Suzanne Colbert AM said the current employment programs give little consideration to employers and the need for good job matching. 

“As a result, a high proportion of people with disability who commence employment do not reach the 26 week retention mark – DEEWR’s current definition of success," she said.

“At Australian Network on Disability, we have abundant evidence that people with disability can be highly skilled, competent and valuable employees. However, this is a largely untapped talent pool, because the current system does not make it easy for employers."

Colbert’s comments reinforce an opinion piece published in the Sydney Morning Herald at the weekend by the CEO of Mission Australia Toby Hall called Disabled Maybe, But Fully Fit to Work. 

“A balanced long-term approach to boosting the employment of people with disability in Australia involves collaboration between employers, government and people with disability,” Colbert said.

“In working towards the re-development of employment services 2015, a high priority needs to be given to genuine engagement with employers and the significant role they can play in assisting unemployed Australians with disability to shift from poverty to sharing in Australia’s prosperity.”