Open Forum: Lifting Australia's Disability Employment Participation
The stubbornly low rate of employment among Australians with disability will be the focus of an upcoming Western Sydney University Open Forum.
The Open Forum 'Lifting Australia's Disability Employment Participation: What will it take?' will take place November 24 at 6pm at the Female Orphan School, Parramatta South Campus.
In 2012, the rate of employment for Australians with disability was 54.9%, compared to 82.5% for working-age people without disability.
Joining the Open Forum are two guest speakers dedicated to improving the economic security and personal wellbeing for people with disability:
- Dr Paul Miller is a Director with the Disability Employment Taskforce within the Department of Social Services and has worked in social policy for the last 15 years in a variety of areas including strategic social policy, policy payments, money management, and Autism.
- Ms Toni Wren leads Australian Network on Disability's High Growth Jobs-Talented Candidates project funded by the NSW Government and has worked extensively as an employment and social policy consultant across research, policy development and advocacy, and non-profit management
The Conference Organiser and Director of Equity and Diversity, Dr Sev Ozdowski, says more needs to be done to secure workplace equality for all Australians, including those with disability.
"Nearly one in five Australians has a disability, and this number will only increase as the population ages," says Dr Ozdowski.
"Unfortunately, the unemployment rate for people with disability continues to be significantly higher than for other Australians."
"In order to harness the potential of all Australians, we need to find new ways of helping people with disability participate in the workforce and supporting employers to make full use of their skills."
Dr Paul Miller is a Director with the Disability Employment Taskforce within the Department of Social Services, leading the federal Government's investigation into causes and possible solutions to our low disability employment rate.
Ms Toni Wren leads the High Growth Jobs-Talented Candidates project funded by the NSW Government. This project works with employers in the Health and Social Assistance, Knowledge and Food and Accommodation Services industry to build their disability confidence and recruit talented and skilled workers.
Ends
23 November 2015
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