$3.3 Million Federal Funding For Disability Workers

A new initiative that opens doorways and opportunities for people living with disabilities has just been announced by the Federal Government following the recent Jobs and Skills Summit.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported that 93 per cent of unemployed working-age people with a disability have trouble finding employment despite there being a massive skill shortage in Australia and a demand for additional workforce across many sectors.

The summit identified that there needs to be better employment pathways for young people to get into the workforce and the Disability Employment Initiative pilot will identify what they are.

Jo Field is the Executive Manager of Disability and Community Development at Feros Care in Mackay and says the National Disability Insurance Agency has a goal to find meaningful employment for 30 per cent of people with a disability by 2023.

“There are so many benefits for an employer and an organisation,” said Jo.

“An improved culture of problem solving, better collaboration, improved reliability, less staff turnover and better attendance at work. That’s on top of the huge social benefits.”

One such person who is evidence of the benefits is Chanelle Morris who has a rare type of vision impairment and now works at Feros Care in Mackay.

Chanelle’s right eye only sees about 12 per cent, so is legally blind, and her left eye sees about 50 per cent vision so she has difficulty reading computers, recognising colleagues and seeing screens at meetings.

Despite these challenges she has found a career she loves at Feros and progressed in her role from HR Assistant to Executive Assistant within the last six months.

“The culture and people I work with have all offered their emotional support and physical support,” said Chanelle.

Chanelle is also the chair of the peer and carer support network group for people identifying with disability at Feros Care. Their main goal is to come together to share experiences and learn from others.

“My vision is to ensure everyone feels supported and connected. It is very important to me to provide a space where people feel they belong and can freely disclose information,” she said.

“I want this group to bring a sense of identity and belonging to individuals to feel included and valued.

Another goal of the group is to improve the diversity and inclusion aspect of Feros Care as an organisation to increase staff success and positivity and client satisfaction.”

Tips on how to support staff with disabilities:

· Listen

· Do not assume someone with a disability is not capable or might feel or act the same as others with the same diagnosis. Everyone is different and we all experience the world differently

· Have an open and honest conversation about their individual needs, such as any equipment

· Educate other colleagues and team members around disability. The work culture is a large influence in staff satisfaction and there is nothing worse than feeling distant and excluded from colleagues in the workplace

Image: Chanelle Morris with Jo Field, Executive Manager of Disability and Community Development at Feros Care in Mackay

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