Resources and Support for Agencies

On this page

With one in five Australians living with disability, it is essential that Tasmanian State Service Human Resources (HR) staff and hiring managers are effectively trained and supported to manage employees with disability throughout the entire employment cycle – from workforce planning and job design, through to recruitment, working conditions and employee support.

There are a number of organisations and resources to help agencies build disability confident workplaces. HR teams and hiring managers are encouraged to tap into the various services and supports available that are listed below.

JobAccess

JobAccess is a free information and advice service funded by the Australian Government and delivered by industry professionals.

JobAccess provides expert support to employers to help remove barriers to employing people with disability. They offer expertise across a range of specialist fields including disability and mental health, training and recruitment, workplace adjustments and occupational therapy and are dedicated and passionate about helping employers reap the rewards of an inclusive workplace.

The JobAccess website includes a wealth of information and resources on disability employment and disability in the workplace. Their Employer Toolkit contains short video guides and downloadable resources with practical advice on disability and employment.

In addition to the comprehensive website, JobAccess’ services include:

An expert and confidential telephone advice line (1800 464 800)
The Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) for workplace adjustments and modifications
An employer engagement service – the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC)
Complaints Resolution and Referral Service

JobAccess offers employers with over 100 employees a free, non-binding 12-month partnership through the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator program. This program includes a range of activities such as:

A Recruitment Review through the lens of a person with a disability followed by a customised report that you can work through at your own pace.
Disability Awareness Training for all of your employees.
Connection to Disability Employment Services (DES) via an information session ran and coordinated together.
Free vacancy distribution service to a talent pool of people with disability.
Help developing workplace policies, practices and strategies that accommodate people with disability.

All agencies are encouraged to take up this partnership with JobAccess to drive disability employment initiatives and build disability confidence in the workplace.

You may also like to join the JobAccess mailing list to receive e-newsletters and invitations to employer events.

Telephone: 1800 464 800

Website: www.jobaccess.gov.au

Australian Network on Disability

The Australian Network on Disability (AND) is a national not-for-profit funded by its members that helps organisations create accessible workplaces and employ people with disability. They are the only employer-led network in Australia that is focused on the inclusion of people with disability. They strive to advance the equitable inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of business by providing expert advice and services on disability to employers.

AND helps members to:

build knowledge and skills to create an accessible and inclusive workplace
connect with the right people
monitor progress and constantly improve

The Tasmanian State Service is a member of this network and has access to AND insights, tools, techniques, resources and training.

AND also offer a free Access and Inclusion Index Test for employers to find out how accessible and inclusive they really are.

Telephone: 1300 363 645

Website: www.and.org.au

Disability Employment Service Providers

Disability Employment Service (DES) providers help eligible people with a disability, injury, or health condition to find work and keep a job. DES providers can also work with employers to help them develop practices that support employees with disability in the workplace.

You can read more about DES providers on the Disability Employment Portal on the Tasmanian Government Jobs website.

You can also search for local DES providers near you on the JobAccess website.

Agencies are encouraged to build strong relationships with DES providers in order to successfully employ and support people with disability.

IncludeAbility

IncludeAbility 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.

IncludeAbility is comprised of four components:

IncludeAbility has published a number of resources for employers to support them in employing and managing people with disability.

Agencies are strongly encouraged to establish a Disability Employee Network (DEN) which is an employee-led group that champions the inclusion of people with disability within their workplace. DEN members can be people with lived experience of disability or allies. DEN’s provide a range of benefits for employers and employees.

Telephone: 1800 620 241

Websites: www.includeability.gov.au | www.humanrights.gov.au

Equal Opportunity Tasmania

Equal Opportunity Tasmania aims to foster a society free of discrimination, prejudice, bias and prohibited conduct by administering the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998. They have resources and information for employers as well as community awareness, education and fee-for-service training for workplaces.

Equal Opportunity Tasmania also offers support and free legal advice to people with disability who feel as though they have been discriminated against in the workplace.

Telephone: 1300 305 062

Website: www.equalopportunity.tas.gov.au

Divisions