Statement of Intent – Working Together for Ability

A growing number of leading Australian businesses, unions, disability employment services, industry representatives and people with disability are working with the Australian Government to improve employment opportunities for people with disability.

Together, we believe that building long term employment for people with disability goes hand-in-hand with boosting productivity and strengthening our community for all Australians. Ultimately, this will help to build a more robust and inclusive society.

There are significant advantages to employing and developing people with disability in the workforce consistent with strong corporate social responsibility.  With the right planning this can be a real win for both people with disability and business. 

The current Global Financial Crisis means that we all need to be smart sellers and smarter recruiters to thrive. Now is the time to plan to build workforce capability to prepare for economic recovery. We agree that smart employers, are disability aware employers. The case is clear: 

• Studies in Australia and overseas have shown that people with disability want to work and are often strong candidates for the job. The studies have also shown that people with disability are very reliable, and have comparably low rates of sick leave and accidents in the work place across the entire workforce.

• Around 1 in 5 Australians have a disability and this represents a sizeable customer and employee base; and

• Through employment, we can tap into the skills, experiences and perspectives of people with disability.

There are often simple solutions to perceived barriers to employing people with disability. The practical steps can be small, simple and yet very effective.

We welcome the Government's demonstrated commitment in this area through its Disability Action Plan - a framework for business.

This flexible framework provides ideas and resources to help more businesses successfully attract, retain and develop people with disability in the workforce.

Each of us, in our own way, is now moving from commitment to action.

We are excited by the opportunity to bring disability and business together and we will continue to work together and promote the benefits across the Australian community. 

Issued by

• ACE National Network
• Advanced Personnel Management
• ANZ
• Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI)
• Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
• The Australian Hotels Association
• Bendigo & Adelaide Bank Ltd
• Ben Lawson, Community Representative
• Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd
• Crown Limited
• Ernst and Young
• Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
• GJK Facility Services
• Grocon Pty Ltd
• Interact Australia
• KPMG
• Kathleen Townsend Executive Solutions Pty Ltd
• National Disability Services
• National Retail Association (NRA)
• St.George Bank
• Uniting Care Australia
• Visy
• Wesfarmers Limited
• Westpac Banking Corporation
• Woodside Energy Limited
• Woolworths Limited
• Workability (Em-Tech Inc)