Disability Employment

The World Health Organisation states that over 1 billion people worldwide have a lived experience of disability and that it’s likely almost everyone will experience disability at least once in their lifetime – whether temporary or permanent.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines people with disability to include:

“…those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments, which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”

A person may be born with a disability or may develop one later in life due to an accident, injury, illness or ageing.

Many disabilities are not visible and one in five Australian’s have a disability.

Nearly 50% of people with disability of working age in Australia are not in the labour force, representing a significant opportunity for employers (Australian Network on Disability).

These statistics emphasise the importance of prioritising disability inclusion in the workplace.

The Tasmanian State Service needs to embrace the many talents and experiences of people with disability and realise the potential of fully accessible and inclusive workplaces.

Disability resources for agencies

The following list of webpages have been created to help government agencies build disability confident workplaces and best support their employees with disability.

• Resources and Support for Agencies
• Creating an Accessible Workplace

Disability Employment Portal

The Disability Employment Portal is the Tasmanian Government hub for disability employment information located on the Tasmanian Government Jobs Website.

The Portal is for people with disability looking for jobs in the Tasmanian State Service and government agencies employing people with disability.

It includes information on how to get job ready and find work, how to apply, tips on resume writing and the interview process, as well as details on workplace support and adjustments. There is also information on what it is like to work for the Tasmanian State Service and how Disability Employment Service providers can help people with disability.

Did you know?

• There is currently an untapped market of 1 million people with disability seeking employment.¹
• People with disability have strong skillsets in innovation and problem-solving and are often more likely to find appropriate solutions to complex and unexpected problems.²
• Absenteeism rates drop for employers that hire people with disability.³
• Various studies have found the retention rate of people with disability is higher than the retention rate of their peers without disability.⁴
• The most common reason given for employing people with disabilities was cost-effectiveness, due to their productivity.⁵
• People with disability are less at risk of occupational injury when compared to their colleagues without disability.⁴

References

1. Australian Network on Disability, Business benefits of employing people with disability, 2021, viewed at: https://www.and.org.au/join-us/why-hire-people-with-a-disability/benefits.
2. Aichner, T. ‘The Economic Argument for Hiring People with Disabilities,’ 2021, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Volume 8 (Issue 1).
3. Graffam J, Shinkfield A, Smith K and Polzin, U, ‘Employer benefits and costs of employing a person with a disability’, 2002, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 17, (no. 4), p. 251-263.
4. Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council, Are People with Disability at Risk at Work? A Review of the Evidence, 2007, p.2.
5. Randle, M. Reis, S, ‘Changing community attitudes toward greater inclusion of people with disabilities – A rapid literature review’, 2019, Department of Communities and Justice, p 21.