Did you know that 1 in 5 Australians live with some form of disability? A significant proportion of these people—over 2 million, in fact—are of working age and are wanting to work. Unfortunately, people with disabilities face barriers to employment that are not based on practical considerations: even in this day and age, there is discrimination, prejudice, and ignorance about disabilities and their impact on the individual, particularly in relation to employment.
That’s why, this month, Pryme would like to encourage Australian businesses to commit to supporting a more inclusive and diverse workplace. International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is a UN day celebrated every year on 3 December. The day is about promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development, and to support them to participate fully, equally and effectively in a society with no barriers.
Workers with disabilities
At Pryme, we believe that people with disabilities should not experience difficulty securing employment, especially when their disability doesn’t affect their ability to perform in the role.
People living with disability are a very valuable, but very underused, economic resource. They are as much of an asset to the workforce as people without disabilities, and their lived experience may bring additional unique benefits and insights to their employers and workplace. Many employers find that people with disabilities are also very productive workers, who not only perform as well as their able-bodied colleagues but exhibit a higher degree of dedication in their role and stronger commitment to achievement—perhaps as a result of the strength and resilience that comes from dealing with adversity and frequent challenges, both physical and social.
Hiring workers with disabilities
It’s a gross misconception that workers with disabilities cannot hold tertiary or trade qualifications. There are many roles within Australian trade workplaces that could be performed well by people with various disabilities. We encourage all businesses to do away with prejudice and preconceptions, and to provide equal opportunities for all candidates, so that disability will no longer be a determiner when hiring new staff.
You can also support work-based initiatives for people with disabilities by supporting social enterprises and charities like we do at Pryme, including Endeavour Foundation. Endeavour provides supported employment solutions to help people with disability to live, learn, work, and flourish, and to build the skills and confidence they need to make friends, earn a wage, and achieve workplace goals. And their solutions aren’t just inclusive: they’re innovative, providing employment in roles across industries including packing and logistics, recycling and sustainability, and manufacturing. To find out more about Endeavour Foundation and how to support them, visit https://www.endeavour.com.au
Getting involved in International Day of People with Disability
There are many ways you can get involved and celebrate International Day of People with Disability in your workplace. You could:
- Hold or attend an event on, or around, 3 December to celebrate
- Join or start a conversation in your community to promote awareness, understanding, inclusion and acceptance of people with disability
- Read, watch and listen to the stories and experiences of people with disability to challenge your own attitudes and assumptions
- Take action in your workplace to remove barriers and improve accessibility for people with disability
- Help spread the word and share your messages of support online
- Find your own unique way to acknowledge and celebrate people with disability in your workplace.
You can access information kits with ideas and tips to help get you started, and resources for workplace celebrations, at https://www.idpwd.com.au
As part of our commitment to inclusivity and making the workplace a better place, we’re proud to support Endeavour Foundation, and to provide the best safety solutions on the market for the diverse needs of all of Australia’s workers.
