3.10 Employment

During the 2012-16 reporting period, disability advocates reported assisting 19 people with employment issues in an average three -month period.

Disability advocacy Issue Employment
Number 19 people on average per quarter
Trend ≈ generally stable
Rights under the CRPD Governments will:

  • prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to all matters concerning all forms of employment, including conditions of recruitment, hiring and employment, continuance of employment, career advancement and safe and healthy working conditions
  • protect the rights of persons with disabilities to just and favourable conditions of work, including equal opportunities and equal remuneration for work of equal value, safe and healthy working conditions, including protection from harassment, and the redress of grievances
  • promote opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship, the development of cooperatives and starting one’s own business
  • employ persons with disabilities in the public sector;
  • ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with disabilities in the workplace
  • promote vocational and professional rehabilitation, job retention and return-to-work programmes for persons with disabilities (Article 27)
Commitments in the State Disability Plan The Victorian government will:

  • develop an employment strategy to drive systemic improvements and outcomes for people with a disability
  • demonstrate leadership as a major employer through targeted approaches to the employment and retention of people with a disability in the public service and broader public sector
  • support people with a disability to generate income through business ownership, entrepreneurship and social enterprises (Key Priority 10)

 

Analysis

The series appears relatively stable over the reporting period (figure 17).

 

Figure 17: Reports of employment issues

 

Case study: Help to negotiate employment arrangements

Aiden* disclosed his disability to his new employer and the employer raised some concerns about hiring Aiden due to his health.

Aiden contacted an advocate for assistance. The advocate arranged a face-to-face meeting with Aiden and the employer to assist with negotiating working hours and leave if, and when, required. The advocate also provided the employer with general information about disability, including a written guide from Apprenticeship Victoria, and superannuation information.

The employer’s concerns were alleviated and they were pleased to employ Aiden.

* names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals

 

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