Building disability confidence in employment

Introduction to Disability Awareness online course

Introduction to Disability Awareness is a free, self paced e-learning module that builds understanding of disability inclusion and the impact of societal attitudes, stigma and discrimination on the lives of people with disability.

Developed as part of the Australian Government’s National Disability Coordination Officer Program the course helps to increase confidence when interacting with people with disability across work, education and community settings.

WA Public Sector Disability Employment Confidence

These resources from National Disability Services WA support an agency wide approach to disability employment confidence.

Co-designed with people with disability, disability employment providers and WA public sector agencies, they focus on:

• agency self assessment
• building disability understanding including a disability awareness online training module
• recruitment activities across advertising, interviewing and customising employment
• retention including a checklist for managers.

IncludeAbility resources

These employment resources guide agencies on attracting and recruiting people with disability.

They also support building accessible and inclusive workplaces for everyone with guidance on:

• a workplace access and inclusion health check
• attracting and recruiting people with disability
• creating an accessible and inclusive induction
• customising a job for a person with disability
• building a culture of accessibility and inclusion eLearning.

IncludeAbility is an initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission.

JobAccess resources

JobAccess was created by the Australian Government to bring together workplace and employment information for people with disability, employers and service providers.

It has guidance to help remove barriers to employing people with disability including:

• an employer toolkit
• help to coordinate and fund workplace adjustments, support and training
• information about accessing financial support for employees with disability.

There’s also an advisory service to answer questions about disability employment.

• The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 is Commonwealth legislation that provides people with disability with legal protection from discrimination and promotes equal access and inclusion in areas like work, education and public services.
• The Western Australian Equal Opportunity Act 1984 aims to eliminate discrimination against people with disability (referred to as ‘impairment’ in the Act) and promote their equal participation in areas such as work, education and access to goods and services.
• The Western Australian Disability Services Act 1993 promotes the rights and inclusion of people with disability and guides the delivery of programs and services. It requires all Western Australian Government departments to develop and implement Disability Access and Inclusion Plans (DAIPs) to support equitable access and participation.
• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international human rights convention which sets out the fundamental human rights of people with disability.

• Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 is Australia’s national disability policy framework. It is driving action at all levels of government to improve the lives of people with disability.
• The State Disability Strategy 2020–2030 sets a 10 year vision for a more inclusive Western Australia, aiming to protect and advance the rights of people with disability. It is supported by action plans that drive systemic change and promote equitable participation across 4 key pillars of life.
• The Disability Royal Commission – WA Implementation Roadmap provides information on the WA Government’s response to the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission.

• The Australian Human Rights Commission plays a leading role in advancing the rights of people with disability, offering guidance to employers on preventing discrimination and creating inclusive, accessible workplaces.
• The Australian Disability Network is the national employer-led body that helps organisations build confidence and capability to include people with disability as employees and customers. Programs like the Disability Confident Recruiter help hiring managers identify and remove barriers to ensure accessible and equitable recruitment processes.
• People with Disabilities WA (PWdWA) delivers community based projects that empower people with disability through self advocacy, inclusive employment and accessibility initiatives across Western Australia.