The Queensland public sector is transitioning the view of disability to one that does not deny the reality of disability nor its impact on the individual, but focuses on challenging the physical, attitudinal, communication and social environments to disable disability.
The sector’s goal is to not seek an individual to change to accommodate the workplace environment but to ensure the workplace environment is accessible for all employees.
This view is supported by:
- Working differently: empowering disability confidence summary report
- Disabling the barriers to employment implementation plan 2019-20
Disability Service Plans
All Queensland Government departments have Disability Service Plans in place to improve access and provide appropriate government services for people with a disability and their families as well as actions for their workforce.
National Disability Insurance Scheme
To improve workforce participation and employment outcomes for people with disability, the Australian Government — in partnership with state governments — is introducing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The scheme aims to support the independence, social and economic participation of people with disability and the scheme commenced in Queensland in 2016.
See our NDIS workforce strategy.
1. Statistics
- 1 in 5 Australians identify as living with a disability
- almost 90% of disabilities are not visible
- 78% of people acquire their disability at the age of 16 years or older
- 90% of employees with disability are equally or more productive than other employees
- Australia ranks 27 out of 27 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries for people with disability living in or near poverty (45% compared to 22% average)
- Australia ranks 21 out of 27 OECD countries for workforce participation of people with disability
- Currently under 3% of Queensland public sector employees identify as living with a disability.
2. Sources
- Australian Network on Disability
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers 2012
- Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers - A Synthesis of Findings across OECD Countries. OECD. (2010)
- Sickness, Disability and Work: Keeping on track in the economic downturn – Background paper. OECD. (2009)
- Graffam J, Shinkfield A, Smith K, & Polzin U 2002, Employer benefits and costs of employing people with disability, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation (17) 251.
