Stories
These stories describe the diverse experiences of people with disability in the workforce, including their experience using JobAccess, disclosing disability and employer flexibility.
No holding back “ray of sunshine” Angela
Angela Watkins – who was born with a sight and hearing disability – couldn’t believe how her world opened up after coming to Australia from South Africa.
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Legal Eagle Jude thanks JobAccess for supporting stellar career
Jude Lee – once a litigation lawyer in the big end of town prosecuting the likes of giant corporate raider the late Alan Bond – has always had a vision of what was possible for him.
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Video: KPMG powers disability inclusion with support from JobAccess
International professional services firm KPMG embarked on improving disability inclusion within the organisation with support from the Australian Government's JobAccess service and the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC) program.
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Video: Inner West Council charts its disability confidence with JobAccess
Inner West Council is a local government area located in the inner western region of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
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Video: Anthony keeps his job on the farm with workplace adjustments from JobAccess
New South Wales-based grazier Anthony Ferris discusses his experience of receiving workplace adjustments through JobAccess.
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Video: The inclusive filmmaking process behind JobAccess video case studies
JobAccess recently engaged Taste Creative and Bus Stop Films to share the stories of employers and people with disability who've used the program.
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Practice makes perfect: Dr Lung’s swift return to work with support from JobAccess
After a cycling accident in early 2019 resulted in paraplegia, Jeremy Lung, a well-respected dentist from Sydney, felt like everything was taken away. But with the support of a trusted mentor as well as JobAccess, he was back in the swing of things before the year was out.
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The sound of success: supporting Alistair’s career as an international voice artist
Listening to Alistair Lee’s dynamic vocal range, you can understand why he’s in demand in the voice acting industry. With the support of JobAccess, he’s been able to make a critical piece of studio software accessible to his needs, allowing him to expand his international career.
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Making her mark
Like many of us, Fiona Demark leads a full life — she works full-time, raises two teenage children, manages her own life coaching business, and even finds time for thrill-seeking on weekends. But the daily challenges she experiences as a result of her blindness mean that she needs extra support — and with JobAccess, Fiona knows she can get the help she needs to continue to thrive.
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Teaching resilience through lived experience
Howard Clark is a passionate teacher. His long career started at a primary school, from which he transitioned to St Patrick’s College in Ballarat, an all-boys school, where he has been teaching for 26 years.
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Widening the lens: SBS embarks on the journey to disability confidence
Created in October 1975, Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) was born to meet the growing call for ethnic broadcasting in Australia as a result of higher migration after World War II. Forty-four years on, diversity is still at the heart of everything for SBS.
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Real Life Story
Meet Dwayne Fernandes, Diversity and Inclusion Partner at the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
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Innovation key to moving the dial on disability employment
4.4 million Australians, or one in five, live with disability; a number expected to grow with an ageing population.
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Why Tasmanian employers are embracing disability employment
Driving Disability Employment: the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace was the 25th seminar for employers hosted by JobAccess
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How employers can unlock the untapped dividends of disability employment
JobAccess organised its 26th Employer Seminar in a first-ever virtual panel discussion format for Victoria-based organisations
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Taking a weight off Michael’s mind and shoulders
As a landscaper and property services provider, Michael enjoys the creativity that comes with the job.
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Event Wrap – All you need to know about workplace adjustments
Offering workplace adjustments is a key element of inclusive organisations, and an area of increasing interest for employers wanting to ensure an accessible workplace for all employees.
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City of Boroondara Council embeds disability employment in process and practise
Home to more than 183,000 residents, Boroondara has one of the most increasingly diverse populations in Victoria. This includes people with disability.
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The Hardy Road
For the last 30 years, Tim Hardy has run his own rural supplies business in the Wheatbelt town of Penong; located over 600kms north-west of the South Australian state capital of Adelaide.
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How a JobAccess Professional adviser supports employers to remove barriers
Expert support, innovative solutions, and clear and consistent communication – that is what you can expect when engaging with a JobAccess Professional Adviser
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Supporting David to raise the bar on his practice
As Principal at Burns and Associates Solicitors, David Burns has been running his Brisbane-based law firm specialising in commercial court litigation since 1992.
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Pulling out the stops to support Cassandra’s employment journey
Cassandra Embling considers it important to make sure the people she supports are happy. In her role as a Customer Success Representative with BindiMaps, she gets to do just that.
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Knowledge, expert support and results awaits employers who embrace disability employment
When considering a new initiative or project, most would agree that a strong business case, expert support and practical examples to follow are important components that a manager would want to see.
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Event wrap
Towards inclusive growth: enabling career progression for employees with disability to vitalise organisational success.
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A turning point in disability confidence for NNSWLHD
With a network of 12 hospitals and multi-purpose services and 20 community health centres, JobAccess alumni Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) provides public healthcare for a community of 300,000 residents across Northern NSW.
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A focus on outcomes, a wide range of matters: how CRRS works with DES and participants
What Kate Wilder loves about her work as a Client Support Adviser with the Complaints Resolution and Referral Service (CRRS) is assisting the people that get in contact.
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Event Wrap - Reimagining the workplace to drive disability employment
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that organisations can and need to be innovative and flexible, so why not maintain this momentum and consider what disability employment could offer?
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Supporting employee wellbeing in office and remote working environments
The swift change in the way we work and live, combined with the sense of uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to affect everyone in different ways.
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Promoting workforce diversity: how MEGT works with DES providers to attract and employ people with disability
Australian not-for-profit MEGT (Australia) Ltd (MEGT) plac
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Event Wrap - Disability inclusion an Essential element for forward thinking employers
Employers were encouraged to embrace the potential of disability employment and keep taking steps towards disability inclusion at a recent seminar hosted by JobAccess in collaboration with Essential Energy.
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From self-doubt to ‘yes, I can’: helping Shane to continue to perform at the highest level
For Shane Somerville, providing support and value to his clients and employer at the highest possible level is exceptionally vital.
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Enabling Donna to support her community
Donna values helping people. Her passion for removing barriers and assisting people with disability into meaningful work sees Donna impact change at the grassroots level.
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CRRS helping the DES – client connection
As with any working relationship, effective communication between a Disability Employment Services (DES) participant and their provider is critical to make progress against plans and ultimately achieve employment success.
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Re-thinking the workforce: Seeing Machines embrace an innovative pathway to disability employment
Road accidents involving commercial vehicles are a common cause of casualties worldwide.
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Event Wrap
Look beyond the usual: innovative strategies key for businesses to embrace an inclusive workforce
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Paving the way: Improving mental health awareness in the workplace
Grant Everett, Assistant Publications Officer of Panorama Magazine
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Disability employment at McDonald’s
Christopher Croker has been an employee at McDonald’s Wadalba since February 2016. Over the past 3 years, Chris has made himself an invaluable asset to the team, most recently being nominated in the 2019 NSW Business Chamber Business Awards as Outstanding Young Employee of the Year.
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Giving disability employment the voice it deserves
Ahmed Rezaei, Administrative Support Assistant, The University of Queensland.
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Onto greener pastures for disability employment
Daniel Tickner, Front of House at Halekulani Bowling Club.
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The businesses benefitting from a new world of ability
When Sanjay Dhariwal, from HPE Pointnext, heard about AccessAbility Day, the decision to get involved was an obvious one.
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Disrupting the status quo: why we need to embrace disability employment
Meet Sam Flood, Registered Pharmacist, Capital Chemist Coburg North
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Disability employment providing a fresh perspective in the workplace
Meet Stanley Billiau, Senior Adviser in Talent and Culture Advisory (HR), ANZ
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Giving people the chance to ask about living with disability
A day in the office for Paul Harpur usually starts around five am. During the peace and quiet of the early mornings, he’s corresponding with his American colleagues who are wrapping up their own day. With his emails out of the way, Paul then jumps on the bus to work where he is a senior lecturer at the University of Queensland’s TC Beirne School of Law.
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The benefits of an inclusive and diverse workforce: A JobAccess Employer Seminar co-hosted by Flinders University
Employers need to challenge the misconceptions about employing people with disability to access and realise the potential of a large talent pool.
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Managing Mental Health at Work
A JobAccess Alumni event co-hosted by Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
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Powering talent
A reliable energy source is vital to the social-economic development of any region, especially areas with limited accessibility.
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How businesses can Flourish by hiring people with disability
“There’s an old Japanese proverb and something they have done there for centuries. They take vases and ceramics that have been smashed into pieces, and put them back together with gold so it becomes more beautiful, showing its cracks and imperfections. This is our philosophy,” says Fay Jackson, General Manager, Inclusion at Flourish Australia.
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Pulling back the Curtin on the benefits of disability employment
Carol Dowling is an Associate Lecturer at Curtin University who specialises in Aboriginal studies. She is passionate about teaching indigenous culture and history, and following the recent completion of her PHD she also does off-site field work.
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Employ their Ability – Fay Jackson
Meet Fay, General Manager of Inclusion at Flourish Australia. What abilities could a person with disability bring to your business?
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Preparing for success with disability employment interviews
Once you’ve had a person with disability apply for a job, what comes next? Just like with anyone else, it’s time for an interview.
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Capitalising on a diverse workforce
When Samantha Kourtis first met Jack he was 16. Jack’s parents were asking Samantha if he could do work experience at Capital Chemist Charnwood in Canberra, where she has been the owner for five and a half years.
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The transformative power of work
For Waterfalls Café owner Rachel Power, watching the transformation of her staff from when she first hires them to the people they become is the most rewarding part of her job.
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Learning about disability employment
Meet Alison, Vice Principal and Literary Coach at Department of Education in Tasmania.
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A strong future for supported employment
Brite is an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) taking a person centred and holistic approach to employment for people with disability.
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Nundah Community Enterprises Cooperative
Nundah Community Enterprise Cooperative has been a successful social enterprise for more than 20 years...
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Employment Assistance Fund
Daniel Pistritto, Audiometrist and Assistive Listening Device Product Manager at Blamey Saunders hears
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Managing Mental Health at Work
A JobAccess Alumni event co-hosted by Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME), Queensland.
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A new pool of talent waiting for employers
Meet Tom, Baker’s Assistant at Banjo’s Bakery Café
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How could an inclusive culture benefit your workplace?
Meet Nikki Andersen, Digital Content and Rights Officer at University of Southern Queensland
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Workplace confidence with disability employment drives success
Meet James Phillis, Australia and New Zealand CEO of SMEC Australia & New Zealand
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Why one workplace adjustment can have benefits for many
Meet Neslihan Sari, Paralegal at Public Transport Victoria.
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How disability employment can spark innovation
Meet Kenny, Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft Australia.
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Employer partnership: Glen Eira City Council
Strength in diversity: Glen Eira City Council walks the talk in community inclusion.
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Employer partnership: Curtin University
Top of the class: Curtin University leading the way in accessible workplaces.
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Breaking barriers with the Employment Assistance Fund
Donna Purcell, Senior Manager Accessibility and Capability Advice at Commonwealth Bank
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Unlocking Potential: resources and support to enable inclusive workplaces
A JobAccess employer seminar co-hosted by Monash University.
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Why disability employment isn’t a Fringe issue
Meet Simon Abrahams, Creative Director & CEO at Melbourne Fringe.
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Why inclusion and accessibility strategies are good for business
Meet Niall Betteridge, Director, Enterprise Architecture at PwC.
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How disability employment benefits big workforces
Meet Kevin Green, Cleaning Supervisor at Compass Group Australia.
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JobAccess Employer partnership: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
Sofitel opens door to an untapped talent pool.
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Why PwC is committed to hiring people with disability
Meet Nicole. Senior Manager, Diversity and Inclusion at PwC.
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Setting up disability employment to succeed
Meet Ebru Dogan. Diversity and Inclusion Advisor at Gold Coast University Hospital.
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How employing people with disability benefits the workplace
Meet Daniel. Liaison Librarian at William Angliss Institute.
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Niall Betteridge
Meet Niall. Director of Enterprise Architecture at PwC, tennis enthusiast and hearing impaired.
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Claire Mitchell
Meet Claire. Administration Assistant at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital School, leader and born with Down Syndrome.
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Dinesh Palipana
Meet Dr Dinesh Palipana. Doctor at Gold Coast Health, high achiever and acquired quadriplegic.
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Kevin Green
Meet Kevin. Cleaning Supervisor at Compass Group, loving husband and born with Dwarfism.
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Carly Findlay
Meet Carly. Access and Inclusion Coordinator at Melbourne Fringe, writer and born with Ichthyosis.
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DES Overview
This video provides information relevant to people with disability, employers, providers, and stakeholders and where to find more information.
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DES Provider
This video explains the providers’ obligations; how providers’ need to work with participants and employers and how funding/financial incentives.
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DES Participant
This video will explain what to expect; participant rights and obligations and where to find more information.
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DES Employer
This video explains the relationship with the employer and DES provider, along with and services and support employers can receive.
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The diversity of disability in the workplace
This video showcases the diverse types of work performed by people with disability.
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Disclosing disability in the workplace
This video describes several people’s experience disclosing their disability at work.
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Australian Government assistance provided for the workplace
This video explains the range of Australian Government support people with disability have accessed to assist them in the workplace.
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Employer flexibility in the workplace
This video showcases people with disability describing their experience establishing flexible working arrangements with their employer.
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