Dylan Alcott achievement a boost to disability employment
11 February 2022The naming of Dylan Alcott as the first Australian of the Year with a visible disability will help shine the spotlight on the importance of removing barriers to employing people with disability, said JobAccess General Manager, Daniel Valiente-Riedl today.
Mr Valiente-Riedl said JobAccess – the Australian Government program which helps drive disability employment – was delighted with the Australia Day Council’s choice of 2022 Australian of the Year.
“Dylan is already a fantastic role model and voice for both people with disability and the rest of the population, including employers.
“One of JobAccess’ missions is to raise awareness and remove unconscious bias that people with disability may face when it comes to work. Dylan’s experiences, abilities and national platform will help show the many positives of employing a person with disability,” Mr Valiente-Riedl said.
“It will give people with disability more opportunity to challenge misconceptions about employment and improve employers' ability to tap into a capable workforce, which is often overlooked.”
Mr Alcott – a tennis player, Paralympian, philanthropist, media commentator and advocate – is passionate about changing perceptions to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
“People’s perceptions can be the greatest limitation for disabled people. When people with disability look for work, it’s often what we don’t see that is the biggest barrier – that of unconscious bias,” he has been quoted as saying.
“It is time to raise awareness of unemployment among people with disability and change perceptions of what they can achieve in the workplace.
“Everybody deserves meaningful, sustainable employment,” Mr Alcott has said.
Over the past 15 years, JobAccess has been the first port of call for disability employment.
Since launching in 2006 the program has assisted more than 384,000 people – including jobseekers with disability, employers and service providers – with expert advice, support and information on employing people with disability.
Specifically for large businesses, JobAccess’ employer engagement team – the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC) – helps improve their ‘disability fitness’ through free tailored 12-month partnerships.
Employers can contact JobAccess on 1800 464 800 to speak with a professional adviser and learn more about working with the NDRC.
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