Fishing at the shallow end
The sum of small efforts
"Success is the sum of small efforts - repeated day in and day out."Robert Collier
Welcome to the May edition of the NDRC employer newsletter.
Well that quote certainly rings true for me! Whether it’s learning a new skill, starting a new job or
getting your workplace ‘fitter’ when it comes to disability and employment, often it is not a big
effort or change that is required – we simply need to keep chipping away, little by little, to achieve
our goals.
And it seems that many Australian companies are focussed on doing just that. A recent survey
conducted by PwC, an NDRC partner, found 86% of CEOs surveyed said that their company had a
talent diversity strategy in place.
Globally, 64% of CEOs said that their organisation had a strategy in place, while 13% said that they
were planning to implement one. Just 17% said that they had neither a strategy nor a plan for one.
This shows that many organisations really embrace diversity and understand that employing
people with disability is not about charity or just a ‘nice thing to do’ – it simply makes good
business sense.
“For us, diversity is all about talent,” said Ken MacKenzie, Managing Director and CEO at Amcor,
who is quoted in the PwC report. “We want the best talent possible at Amcor, so we’re fishing in
the whole talent pool. If you’re not a diversity-oriented company, then you’re really just fishing in
the shallow end, and why would you want to do that?”
Fishing in the broader talent pool is something that the NDRC also encouraged attendees to
consider at its Getting to Yes seminar held in Brisbane earlier this month - we look forward to
providing a full wrap up of this successful event, along with hints and tips from MC Karni Liddell
and Australia Post’s Diane Utatao in our June newsletter.
Enjoy the read, Lucy Macali, General Manager, NDRC
Give us your jobs!
And on small efforts leading to success, the NDRC believes that one of the biggest barriers to the
employment of people with disability is hiring managers, recruiters and others simply not
understanding disability – usually through a lack of exposure to it.
The NDRC vacancy development and distribution service is a free service to help to all
employers (not just NDRC partners) tap into the broader talent pool that people with
disability represent, by distributing vacancies to Disability Employment Service (DES)
providers nationally. This is a great way for your people to meet more candidates with
disability and start building recruiter confidence and competence.
If you have any current vacancies you would like to promote to DES providers in your area,
please contact us at jobs.ndrc@workfocus.com.
Tools and resources - Good practice, Good business
The Australian Human Rights Commission has reached out to employers to support them embrace
diversity and prevent discrimination in the workplace, with the launch of a suite of free online
resources at an event co-hosted by NDRC alumni, Telstra, in Sydney last month.
Creating a workplace that supports diversity and inclusion can improve productivity and
customer engagement and help avoid complaints of harassment or discrimination.
The ‘Good Practice, Good Business’ resources provide advice on a range of issues including
recruitment and retention of older workers, gender equality, sexual harassment, race
discrimination, employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, employment of
people with disability, domestic and family violence, mental illness and supporting carers in
the workplace.
Follow the link to learn more about ‘Good Practice, Good Business’
Australian Public Service - Leading the Way video
series
The Australian Public Service Commission has created an engaging and informative series of videos
called Leading the Way to build education and awareness around disability and employment in
the public service.
As One – Australian Public Service (APS) Disability Employment Strategy is the APS' response
to the National Disability Strategy 2011.
As One was designed to ensure the APS is recognised as a progressive and sustainable
employer of people with disability. It also aims to improve the experience of people with
disability across APS agencies, by fostering inclusive cultures, increasing demand for
candidates with disability, as well as improving recruitment processes and leadership.
Each video features APS Senior Executives, Disability Champions and subject matter experts
sharing their experiences, views and thoughts around the employment of people with
disability and creating inclusive APS workplaces for everyone. To view the videos click here.
All enquiries in relation to the Leading the Way video series can be directed to
abilityatwork@apsc.gov.au.
Employer in the spotlight - Computershare
A focus on diversity
Computershare has a strong focus on diversity, so when its people met the NDRC, they liked what
they heard.
Anna Davies, Recruitment Manager at Computershare, thought that the NDRC program had
lots of positives that aligned with where the company was heading. “It was flexible, easily
tailored and, as it is a Government-sponsored initiative, great value,” said Anna.
Computershare and the NDRC developed an action plan to guide the partnership, which
aimed to ensure the employment of people with disability is ultimately considered ‘business
as usual’ across the company. The plan included reviewing existing recruitment processes
and developing strategies to connect with the source of candidates, Disability Employment
Services (DES) providers. Key here was ensuring that Computershare distributed its
employment opportunities to DES providers through the NDRC and that it hosted an
information session for DES to provide advice on how to maximise their candidates’ chances
of success in the recruitment process. The introduction of good practice - a guaranteed
review of any applications received from DES candidates - was also agreed to.
The NDRC knows that simply meeting more candidates with disability is one way to build
confidence within organisations. As Computershare was advertising a Customer Service
Representative role and wanted to make sure that it was accessing the broader talent pool,
it asked the NDRC to share this opportunity with local DES providers. Computershare also
confirmed it would offer feedback to providers about any applications received from their
candidates.
One of the applications Computershare received was from Mark Rose. He was a “standout
candidate” according to Anna, and along with another excellent DES candidate, started work
in mid-September 2014.To date, things are going very well.
Although Mark had worked in many roles, from face-to-face customer service through to
product development, he had experienced some difficulty getting back into the workforce
after long periods of illness. Mark says the challenge was getting his “foot in the door”. Gaps
in his resume were not easily explained in the application process, which meant that he
often didn’t hear back from employers.
A social worker put Mark in touch with his local DES provider for support in finding work.
Mark started calling into the office weekly, searching for opportunities and applying for
roles, including the role at Computershare. Mark was offered a face-to-face interview to
demonstrate his skills and experience and the rest, of course, is history! Mark is responsible
for handling day-to-day client service activities for shareholders and brokers. Commencing
full-time provided Mark with a good grounding in the role and helped build his confidence.
After a while, however, he found it difficult to juggle regular medical appointments with his
work commitments. As Mark had established a positive, trusting relationship with his
manager, he was able to reduce his hours to three days per week to accommodate his
health needs.
Mark really enjoys his work, is excited about possible career growth opportunities and loves
being able to give back. “Taxpayers have contributed to me, so now I want to contribute to
society,” said Mark.
National Motor Neurone Disease Week 3-9 May
National Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Week is celebrated nationally in the first full
week of May each year.
During the week, State MND Associations work together to raise awareness and share their
vision of a world without MND. It is also a time to acknowledge the MND community,
especially people living with MND and to remember those who have died.
Neurones control the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow. Motor
neurone disease is a neurological disease affecting the motor neurones (nerve cells) in the
brain and spinal cord. With no nerves activating them, the muscles gradually weaken and
waste away.
Did you hear about, or participate in, the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’? The Ice Bucket Challenge
for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), known as MND in Australia, was a social media
campaign that swept the world in the last half of 2014 attributed to Pete Frates, a former
Boston College captain who lives with MND in the US. The Ice Bucket Challenge quickly went
viral, sparking the involvement of over 60,000 Australians, raising awareness and funds for
research into ways to improve the lives of people living with MND.
To contact a MND state association click here.
Hints from JobAccess - Working with people with
motor neurone disease
People with motor neurone disease (MND) do not usually experience a change in their intellectual
capacity and memory and so a suitable job match, along with support and workplace
modifications, can assist people to continue to participate in the workforce while they are
physically able and perhaps ease the impact of progressive symptoms.
A workplace assessment is recommended to determine specific workplace needs and it may
recommend changes to work tasks and the environment such as:

ensuring wheelchair or walking aid accessibility to all areas of the workplace including
kitchen and bathroom amenities, workspace and other doorways or emergency exits

including more regular breaks at work to avoid fatigue

modifying tasks or the method of work to accommodate strengths

setting up kitchen amenities, office or workplace supplies, equipment and furniture to
allow for independent access and use

introducing adaptive technology or equipment to assist in overcoming barriers,
increasing productivity and independence

adapting workstations or providing ergonomic chairs or stools to suit the individual’s
needs
JobAccess is an Australian Government initiative providing a free information and advice
service, offering practical workplace solutions for people with disability and their employers.
For more information about working with people who are have motor neurone disease visit
JobAccess or call 1800 464 800.
Connecting with Disability Employment Service
providers
Employers often ask “where do we find candidates with disability – they don’t seem to apply for
our roles? While candidates with disability often say “where do we find disability-friendly and
confident employers that will provide us with opportunities?”
The NDRC can help employers to connect with local Disability Employment Service (DES)
providers to ensure they are accessing the broader talent pool that people with disability
represent. Alternatively, employers can visit the JobSearch website and search by postcode
to find a DES provider in their area.
Thank you NDRC partners!
We would like to acknowledge all of the employers who joined as partners of the NDRC over the
last 12 months. Thank you – our program is now fully subscribed for this financial year!
We have enjoyed getting to know a little more about your organisations and helping you to
take those first steps towards meeting your goals around disability and employment.
If your organisation would like to join the NDRC in the coming months, please get in touch
with your local NDRC Account Manager or email gettingtoyes.ndrc@workfocus.com to learn
more.
NDRC alumni
The NDRC works to raise awareness about the benefits of employing candidates with disability
across the organisations we partner with, increasing their overall ‘fitness’ level when it comes to
disability and employment.
The following employers are foundation members of our alumni program and we look
forward to supporting them to sustain their disability employment efforts into the future. To
learn more, please visit each individual employer’s website.

ANZ

Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM)

Australia Post

Australian Taxation Office

Ballarat YMCA

City of Whittlesea

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Computershare

Deakin University

Holroyd City Council

Mercer Australia

Mercy Health

SkyBus

St John of God Health Care

Stockland

Sutherland Shire Council

Telstra

Town of Port Hedland