Inclusive employment

When you employ a worker, the main priority is to have the right person for the job. As 1 in 6 people in Australia have a disability, the right person for the job could be a person with disability.

People with disability bring a range of skills and abilities to the workplace and can strengthen your business through a more diverse, inclusive and stable workforce and assist in addressing workforce shortages.

Job Access

Job Access, an Australian Government initiative, is a national hub for workplace and employment information for people with disability, employers and service providers. Job Access offers expertise across a range of fields including disability and mental health, training and recruitment, workplace adjustments and occupational therapy.

Job Access offers employers:

• Coordination and funding of workplace adjustments, support and training to get workplaces ready and to help an employee with disability work more productively or safely
• Advice and resources on financial support for employers, creating disability employment strategies and employee support plans, managing the work environment and recruiting and training staff with disability
• Connecting with providers of disability employment services.

Employment Assistance Fund

The Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) is a free Australian Government service to help employers modify the workplace to accommodate a person with disability. The Fund is designed to cover the costs of making workplace changes including buying equipment, modifications or accessing services for people with disability.

The EAF can also cover communications technology, Auslan (Australian Sign Language) interpreting, disability awareness training for staff and specialist support for people with mental health conditions or learning disorders.

Disability Employment Service

The Australian Government funds a network of Disability Employment Service providers who offer free services and ongoing support to businesses to employ a person with disability, including:

• professional recruitment advice and job matching
• a ready candidate pool
• help with job design and developing job descriptions
• training and awareness-raising activities for employers, managers, and co-workers
• on the job training and support for employees with disability
• ongoing support in the workplace
• help with access to financial support and incentives.

IncludAbility

IncludAbility is an initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission developed to increase meaningful employment opportunities for people with disability, and to close the gap in workforce participation between people with disability and people without disability. IncludAbility has developed an employment resources web portal that includes a range of advice on attracting and recruiting staff and creating an accessible and inclusive workplace.

Helpful links

Workers with mental illness: a practical guide for managers (PDF)

Employees with disability - Fair Work Ombudsman

Find Your Employment Services Provider - Workforce Australia