Video: KPMG powers disability inclusion with support from JobAccess

[A modern skyscraper towers behind a tree-lined walkway. A businesswoman with wavy blonde hair strides up the walkway. She is interviewed in a skyscraper's office, against a backdrop of plate glass windows overlooking Sydney's Darling Harbour far below. Text: "Ciara Murphy, Intelligent Automation Manager, KPMG."]

Ciara Murphy: My mum used to always say to me ‘Anything impossible can be made possible’. That has always been on my mind and drawing me on to believe that I can do anything. I came over to Sydney from Ireland in 2017, where I'm now working with KPMG in the role of Intelligent Automation Process Manager, and I was born profoundly deaf, and I wear hearing aids in both my ears.

[Near elevators, Ciara scans a card, then moves through sliding glass doors. At a cafe counter, she asks a question. Baristas make coffee. Ciara carries her coffee to an armchair looking out over Sydney skyscrapers. She works on her laptop.]

Ciara: My role at KPMG is centred around automation. Basically, automation is process of making people's lives a lot easier and saving them time by automating steps they do over and over. They could use that time to work on something else, so it is good for the company because it increases productivity. When I was growing up, my parents spend a lot of time teaching me how to talk and I always had the option to do sign language. But I was adamant that I wanted to learn how to speak.

[Sitting in a booth, Ciara works on her laptop.]

Ciara: When it comes to video calls at work. I rely on closed captions, because sometimes the video quality may not always be good enough to enable me to lip read.

[A dark-haired businesswoman is interviewed near plate glass windows of an upper-storey office. Text: "Kate Shaw, Partner, KPMG."]

Kate Shaw: Here at KPMG, we're at the beginning of our disability inclusion journey. We've made some important steps towards increasing inclusion and JobAccess has been very helpful in supporting that.

[Ciara works at a large round table in an office common room. She pensively watches her laptop screen. In an online meeting, the participants' videos are of varying quality. There are no captions.]

Ciara: Before I had access to closed captions in the workplace it was hard. I would have to rely on instant messaging or email which felt like it held me back and slowed the project down. When I solely relied on lip reading, I would be terrified of misunderstanding what someone was asking me or that I would give them the wrong information. It made me feel paranoid.

[At a meeting table, Kate drinks coffee as she reads a KPMG document titled ‘Given the ability to succeed’. Pages are headed ‘Our commitment to disability inclusion’ and ‘Where do we want to be?’]

Kate: KPMG has formed a disability access and inclusion network to support us in our journey. We really want to make KPMG appealing to people with a disability, so they see it as somewhere that they'll feel welcomed and want to work, and JobAccess has been supporting us in doing that.

So, our network has conducted focus groups. We've looked across to review all of our processes and we're looking for ways we can make KPMG an attractive place for people who identify as having a disability to work.

[During an online meeting, captions appear in real-time on Ciara's laptop screen. The speakers' names appear as prefixes before their captions. Smiling, Ciara talks during the meeting.]

Ciara: I am also part of the Disability Assistance Inclusive Network and during my early interaction with them, I informed them that I was struggling in team meetings without closed captions. The network then went and investigated options of how I could be assisted and that's when they sought the support of JobAccess.

[Kate strides through the stylish office, sits at an armchair by a window and talks on her phone.]

Kate: I think that there's a perception that it costs too much to be inclusive but with the likes of JobAccess, it's possible to hire and support people in an inclusive environment without any additional cost. JobAccess has been a really good resource for us to reach out to to explain the situation and to discuss what adjustments or support are needed to make each employee feel confident and comfortable in their roles.

[Sitting in a booth with her laptop, Ciara speaks and laughs during a meeting.]

Ciara: Before closed captions I used to mute myself but now I have newfound confidence being able to speak up in meetings. As someone with a disability it is so important to be included. I want to show the world that I really can do it. 

Kate: We've worked with JobAccess quite a few times now and they've really made the process really easy and streamlined.

[Ciara and Kate meet in an office lobby. They chat, then stride off together, passing a reception desk. A KPMG sign glows on a wall.]

Kate: I think it's important that we remember that people with a disability are consumers as well. And so, when we go to market to serve those consumers, we should do it with teams that are diverse and inclusive and really represent the communities that we serve. 

Ciara: I want to be able to show people out in the world that no matter who we are or what disabilities we have we are valuable.

[An array of skyscrapers cluster along the shore of Sydney's Darling Harbour. Ferries sail past.]

Voiceover: JobAccess provides free and expert support to employers, people with disability and service providers to help remove barriers to disability employment. Employing people with disability may seem complicated but it all starts with one simple step. Call 1800 464 800 or visit www.jobaccess.gov.au to find out more.

[On a purple screen, a rectangular logo reads, "JobAccess, Driving disability employment." Below, white text reads, "1800 464 800, jobaccess.gov.au #EmployTheirAbility." 
The Inclusively Made logo appears on a black screen. Below, text reads, "This film was created inclusively with people living with disability."]