People with disabilities will now have an easier time connecting with potential employers thanks to the development of an accessible online job platform.
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the Australian Government will provide $3.5 million to create a disability-specific digital resource that will help individuals showcase their skills and abilities.
“Job searching can be daunting for everyone but people with disability often face additional obstacles, especially when navigating mainstream services,” Minister Ruston said.
“By addressing barriers at the job searching and application stages we are aiming to increase employment opportunities for jobseekers with disability across all roles and industries.”
Minister Ruston said the WorkAble Project aims to attract 100,000 job seekers with disabilities. Over 45,000 businesses and organisations are expected to join the platform within an 18-month period.
“When I speak to employers, they all say they understand the benefits of employing people with disability but when it comes down to making decisions about who to hire the data shows these positive attitudes are not translating into outcomes,” Minister Ruston said.
“We want every person with a disability who has the capacity to work to get a job and this project will help bridge the gap by educating business leaders about disability inclusion.”
Get Skilled Access is a disability-run organisation that will deliver the digital platform to the public. They will also provide a series of workshops to improve the capacity and confidence of organisations to recruit and retain employees with disabilities.
Paralympian and founder of Get Skilled Access Dylan Alcott OAM welcomed the Government’s investment in disability employment.
“The WorkAble Project will deliver a purpose-built, fully accessible platform that will give individuals with disability the choice as to how they want to be seen by potential employers,” Mr Alcott said.
“Designed and delivered by people with disability, it will enable individuals to showcase their skills and capabilities by defining their own brand.”
With the new online job platform, people with disabilities will have the opportunity to challenge perceptions regarding employment. It will also increase the employer’s ability to access a highly capable but often overlooked workforce.
The platform will allow people with disabilities to create an employee profile highlighting their resume, skill set and interests that would benefit a business. It will also offer jobseeking individuals alternate methods of applying and interviewing for jobs.