A new pilot project, run by our friends at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA), will seek to break down employment barriers for people with disabilities in Western Australia.
Funded by the WA Government, Ability Link, aims to work closely with small and medium-sized businesses to enhance their capacity to employ individuals with disabilities.
Over the course of 12 months, Ability Link will engage in consultations with people with disabilities, their carers and service providers to identify what is needed for a successful transition into the workforce.
A key objective of the initiative is to provide clarity on available support services and streamline access for both employers and employees.
Disability employment through vocational education and training
As a national apprenticeship support and specialist provider, ASA encourages employers to diversify their workforces and takes advantage of the streamlined, end-to-end recruitment support ASA offers across industries in WA.
ASA State Manager Carly Waterfield says Ability Link is empowering and will take WA’s community one step closer to achieving workplace diversity.
“ASA is dedicated to showcasing the value of disability employment and supporting businesses to identify suitable candidates through apprenticeship or traineeship pathways,” Waterfield says.
Waterfield says the initiative is one of the best ways employers can embrace to make their workplace more inclusive.
“Removing barriers for candidates with suitable skills and experience will not only help them achieve professional development, but it will also help businesses thrive,” she says.
Addressing key barriers to disability employment
The project comes in response to a CCIWA report that highlighted significant challenges in disability employment.
The report found that most businesses in WA have made minimal progress in increasing the number of employees with disabilities.
CCIWA CEO Chris Rodwell says this pilot program will help change the narrative around disability employment in the WA.
“Workers with disabilities are an untapped resource, but many businesses have misconceptions about what is involved in hiring someone with different abilities,” Rodwell says.
“This work is an important first step towards bridging the gap between employers and potential employees.”
Rodwell says global evidence supports the benefits of employing people with disabilities.
“Businesses that excel in disability employment are more profitable, their staff are happier, and their customers are more loyal,” he says.
Positive outcomes for workers and businesses alike
Disability Services Minister Don Punch says the Government is prioritising improving employment outcomes and ensuring economic participation for people with disability.
“The Cook Government is keen to work in partnership with private sector industries and businesses to increase employment for people with disability, including support to employers to feel more confident in employing people with disability,” Minister Punch says.
Rodwell is optimistic that Ability Link will have a meaningful impact on both people with disabilities and the businesses that choose to employ them.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for businesses to hire people with disabilities, and this pilot program will aim to clear the barriers that have been holding them back from doing so,” he says.
“Ultimately, it comes down to a shift in our overall attitudes towards people with disabilities. They are valuable, diverse, and capable of making a big contribution across the economy. At the moment, they are a significant untapped resource in our labour market.”
Apprenticeship Support Australia provides all generalist and specialist services businesses need to make apprenticeships successful across Perth and Outback WA.
If you are an employer that wants to champion disability employment in your business, please contact the Ability Link Pilot.
