Minister Calls on Employers to Give People with a Disability a Go

A new Australian new study shows that while employers generally agree that people with disability have a good attitude towards work, many continue to operate under the misconception that people with disability will be less productive.

The study finds employer attitudes have changed little since 2007 when similar research was conducted and concludes that employers today are showing greater sensitivity to potential cost factors associated with hiring someone with a disability than three years earlier.

The study findings come from the 2010 DEEWR Survey of Employers supplemented by data from an online discussion forum in May 2011 with 40 employers covering topics such as recruiting people with disability, experiences of DES, and financial incentives, particularly wage subsidy schemes.

The Federal Minister for Employment Participation, Kate Ellis released the Employer perspectives on recruiting people with disability and the role of Disability Employment Services study this week.

At the launch, the Minister called on Australian employers to recognise the many benefits of hiring someone with a disability and giving them a chance to have a decent job and contribute to our economy.

She says Employers who hire people with disability will often say that these are some of the most loyal, reliable and hardest workers they’ve ever had. Yet employers with little or no experience reject the idea that a person with disability could be the best person for the job.

She says the Federal Government has committed over $3 billion over the next four years to assist people with an injury, disability or health condition have the best possible support and assistance to secure and maintain sustainable employment.

Employers can learn about becoming a ‘disability confident’ organisation and the incentives and support services available to employers and people with disability, by calling a JobAccess Adviser on 1800 464 800 or by visiting www.JobAccess.gov.au

The Employer perspectives on recruiting people with disability and the role of Disability Employment Services study is available at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/ResearchStatistics/ProgEval/Pages/EmployerPerspectivesonDES.aspx