Disability Inclusive Employment Program

Boroondara Council’s free Disability Inclusive Employment Program will place local people with disability into meaningful employment opportunities with businesses in Boroondara and support these businesses with this employment.

With this program, the council aims to:

• improve the confidence and capability of local businesses to attract, recruit and retain employees with disability
• promote the social and economic benefits of being an accessible and inclusive business for employees and customers with disability
• facilitate employment and training opportunities for local people with disability.

Participating businesses

Businesses that join the program will need to offer at least one meaningful employment opportunity to a person with disability based on their skills and interests. Meaningful employment includes such factors as the job being:

• a source of economic independence
• ongoing or with a significant prospect of becoming ongoing
• fulfilling
• inclusive.

Program benefits

The benefits for businesses participating in our free program include:

• connecting with motivated and job-ready staff
• developing the confidence and capability to recruit a diverse workforce, including people with disability
• accessing expertise and resources to support them to become more inclusive and accessible for people with disability
• receiving training and support to identify appropriate employment opportunities within the business
• receiving ongoing training and support to recruit, onboard and retain employees with disability.

The ongoing benefits of employing people with disability include:

• disability-inclusive businesses grow profits more than four times faster than their peers
• workers with disability have higher rates of retention, better attendance and fewer occupational health and safety incidents than those without disability
• people with disability have a positive work attitude and work ethos, and hiring people with disability can boost productivity and morale in the workplace.

Supports and financial benefits

Businesses participating in the program will be provided with training and support before, during, and after placement through email, telephone, and face-to-face consultations. Businesses will be supported to access and implement workplace adjustments and develop customised employment opportunities which meet the needs of the business. Going forward, businesses will also be invited to participate in a local community of practice to share information, experiences, and connections.

Subject to government criteria, businesses may be eligible for a wage subsidy of up to $1,650 over a 13-week period.  Employees can be employed full-time, part-time, or casual, and must be employed on an award wage role for a minimum of 8 hours per week.

In addition, businesses may be able to access financial assistance through the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) to buy work related modifications, equipment, and workplace assistance and support services.

Learn more and participate

You can learn more about the Program and its benefits in the attached flyer and can express interest and learn more via council’s website.