Research: Why employing disabled people makes good business sense

According to the research, 79 percent of Australian employers across these industries are open to hiring people with disability, however, only 58 percent of businesses are currently doing so.

The research showed 83 percent of businesses within the healthcare, social care and education service industries acknowledge the importance of workplace diversity through the employment of people with disability,
“When considering the things that mattered to them, 76 percent said equal work opportunities for people with disability was an issue that was personally important to them,” Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services, Jane Prentice says.
“But the research tells us these businesses want more help to transition from ‘willing’ to ‘hiring’.”
Mrs Prentice asks more employers to take advantage of the practical advice and resources on disability employment, available on the Government’s JobAccess website.
The website covers everything from recruitment assistance, staff training and financial support to workplace modifications and tips for creating flexible working environments.
“Leading disability employers are already utilising these services and reaping the benefits, but we are urging more employers to get on board,” she says.
Diversity and Inclusion Advisor, Ebru Dogan, works for Gold Coast Health, a healthcare employer who has joined the Australian Government’s Employ their Ability, a new campaign seeking to empower employers to hire people with disability by linking employers with the information they need to take the next step.
“Aside from working towards an inclusive culture and meeting targets, it [employing people with disability] brings a diversity of thought that is invaluable,” Ms Dogan says.
She says Gold Coast Health has been working with JobAccess and Disability Employment Services (DES) provider, Epic Assist for a few years and is committed to hiring more people with disability.
“At the moment we have more than 120 employees with disability working here, but after seeing the benefits, we’re actively looking to increase that number,” Ms Dogan says.
Key research findings:

• Across Australian employers in all industries, large (90%) and medium (83%) were more open to employing people with disability compared to small (77%) and micro business (76%)
• There was widespread agreement that employees with disability have a good attitude to work (76% of ‘open’ medium businesses, 69% of ‘open’ large businesses) and are loyal to the business (69% of ‘open’ medium employers, 63% of ‘open’ large employers).
• The major industry groups most supportive and open to hiring people with disability include professional and financial services, retail, accommodation and food services, social, health care and education services.
• Across all businesses, human resources personnel were most open to hiring people with disability (93%) followed by administration staff (83%), middle managers (79%), people in leadership roles (76%) and business owners (73%).
• 42 percent of Australian businesses in the healthcare, social care and education service industries are overlooking candidates with disability during the hiring process.

Doctor Dinesh Palipana is one employee at the Gold Coast University Hospital whose disability hasn’t stopped him studying or working in his chosen field, medicine.
After becoming a quadriplegic following a car accident in 2010, Dr Palipana works as a Junior House Officer and is able to complete 90 percent of what any other doctor does.
He was put in touch with his current employer through Job Access.
Dr Palipana describes his co-workers as “really amazing”.
“If I have a difficulty doing a procedure or something that I can’t do manually, I just ask a colleague, and they’ve almost been uniformly happy to help,” he says.
“I think the biggest thing that you need to know if you have a disability is just don’t see any limits in what you’re looking for.”
Dr Palipana says “it’s important to spend your time pursuing a passion.”
“Think about what job you want to do or what vocation you want to pursue and then make that fit to what your circumstances are.
“There are plenty of advocates and I think people are happy to be progressive and do what’s right.”
Claire is another highly valued employee with disability, working as an Office Administrative Assistant at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital School, Queensland.
“I love my job,” she says.
“It’s very important to enjoy what you’re doing and love what you’re doing, so I feel very lucky.”
Claire is an advocate for people with disability and is Chair of the Queensland State for the Down Syndrome Advisory Network.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Diversity Council Australia Lisa Annese also details the importance of finding a workable solution to ensure more people with disability are given employment opportunities.
“Employing people with disability is not just about ‘doing the right thing’; it makes good business sense because it not only provides access to valuable skills and talents but benefits profit and performance, wellbeing and safety, as well as corporate reputation,” she says.
She also highlights employees with disability experience one of the highest rates of harassing and discriminatory behaviour at work (34 percent of employees with disability had experienced such behaviours in the past 12 months, compared to 21 percent for employees without disability).
Ms Annese describes the solution as “twofold.”
“Firstly, it lies in organisations proactively creating workplaces based on the principle of universal design, so that all are included and all can contribute at work,” she says.
“Secondly, it lies in challenging the stigmas and stereotypes people hold about people with disability. We need to start believing in the ability of disability.”
For more information and resources on employing people with disability click here.
For more information on disability support and services, please visit DisabilitySupportGuide.com.au