New programme to help employers foster 'disability-inclusive workplace cultures'
A new employment programme has been launched in Australia to provide people with disability the opportunities for job fulfilment and career progression.
The Career Pathways Pilot 2023-2025 is an 18-month programme that will be funded by the Department of Social Services and will be run by the Australian Network on Disability and various members of the Business Council of Australia.
"Boosting disability employment shouldn't just be about any job, it should provide pathways to career progression too, and we know that disability-inclusive businesses grow profits more than four times faster than their peers," said Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth in a statement.
Lack of career opportunities
The new programme comes amid an "over-representation" of people with disability on entry-level roles, according to Amber O'Shea, head of strategy at the Australian Network on Disability.
And this over-representation comes amid a lack of career advancement opportunities for people with disability into leadership roles, as well as a lack of representation of people with disability on company boards.
Bran Black, BCA chief executive, underscored that there should be a "concerted effort to drive change from job design to recruitment and move from entry-level jobs to advanced and executive roles."
"If Australia moved into the top eight OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries for employing people with disability, we could see an additional $50 billion to Australia's GDP by 2050," Black said in a statement.
The goal for employers
As part of the effort to boost career opportunities for people with disability, the programme will also ensure that managers can identify, support, and motivate people with disability who aspire to further their career.
"This programme will allow employers to support people with disability to advance their careers and become future leaders, as well as build disability-inclusive workplace cultures and demonstrate safe and supportive working environments," Rishworth said.
O'Shea added that it will also challenge managers' and senior leaders' "preexisting biases and perceptions" that leave people with disability on entry-level roles.
Various members of the BCA, such as Coles Group, Compass Group, Kmart & Target Australia, and Woolworths Group, will participate in the 18-month pilot.
Martin Smithson, Chair of Coles' Accessibility Steering Committee, said they are "excited to join" the pilot programme.
"Often disability employment is stereotyped as an 'entry-level' opportunity. We are committed to continuously supporting the development of our talent and providing them with tools to progress their careers at Coles," Smithson said in a statement.
According to Smithson, 7.6% of their team members identify as people with disability.
"Coles is proud to have many leaders in our team who live with disability," the chair said. "Disability inclusion has been an integral part of the Coles Group strategy for a number of years, and we are delighted to have grown employment and workforce representation."