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A program led by Paralympics Australia is helping bridge the gap between athletes with disabilities and employers looking to establish inclusive workplaces.
The Building Employer Confidence (BEC) program, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, aims to encourage understanding and appreciation of athletes with disabilities in work environments.
As a result of the program, a comprehensive suite of valuable tools and resources has been developed to help employers build inclusive workplaces and to assist Para-athletes in finding meaningful employment.
The program is a collaboration between industry leaders leveraging their experience and influence in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workforce.
Just 53 per cent of people with disability are employed in the Australian workforce, compared with 84 per cent of people without disability.
Five-time Paralympic swimmer and BEC program manager Matt Levy said the collaboration highlighted not just the barriers to employment but how inclusivity can be enabled.
“The results of the past eight months include the creation of a new pathway questionnaire, business readiness tool, athlete dictionary and job inclusion guide,” he said.
“The BEC program reaffirms the invaluable contributions people with disabilities bring to the workplace, aligning with the goals of Paralympics Australia.”
Tools developed include:
- Employment pathways questionnaire – to enable athletes to share their story and knowledge and apply it to what skills they could utilise from their sports and disability backgrounds.
- Business readiness tool – allows organisations to understand if they are ready to employ someone with a disability and where they need to focus to become business ready.
- Job skill matching – a job guide that forms part of inclusive practice, along with a dictionary of terms to assist athletes in articulating their transferable skills.
- Pre-commence guide – a checklist of what might be needed prior to commencement.
- Training for managers – a practical e-learning pack including videos, documentation and quizzes to help managers build inclusive work environments.
Dual Paralympian Tori Pendergast said contributing to the program as an athlete who has transitioned into the workforce was a great experience.
“Collaborating on the program design with fellow athletes was not only insightful but also empowering,” she said.
“Together, we fine-tuned the process to effectively capture athletes’ needs and align them with suitable job opportunities.
“The experience not only enriched my understanding of the employment landscape but also sparked innovative ideas for future initiatives to bridge the gap between sports and career pathways.”
Australian Steelers wheelchair rugby captain Chris Bond was also part of the athlete working group.
“Every meeting I have attended in my role of shaping the project has been in collaboration with elite athletes with lived experience in the workforce,” Bond said.
“This in itself has empowered Para-athletes to contribute meaningfully to the project.”
Early results have shown shifts in employer confidence in:
- Understanding adjustments and support required;
- Recognising the range of skills that a person with a disability can bring to the workplace;
- Attracting a person with a disability and effective onboarding processes.
Paralympic triathlon gold medallist Katie Kelly OAM PLY believes the program’s resources will empower organisations and improve the rate of employment for those with a disability.
“By doing this, we will all contribute to lifting Australia’s current OECD employment ranking of people with disability from 24 out of 27 OECD nations to top 10,” she said.
“The BEC program makes this achievable.”
By Natalie McGarry, Paralympics Australia.
Published 31 May, 2024.
