Expanding Horizons: Overcoming Barriers for Employment
Expanding Horizons is an exciting two-year initiative to help the Monash business community build its confidence in employing and retaining employees with disability.
Funded by the Department of Social Services and delivered in partnership with Holmesglen Institute, Expanding Horizons included a wide offering of information sessions and networking events for businesses and free short courses for employers, jobseekers and support individuals.
The project is now complete. We are proud to share the initiativehas connected more than 100 participants, employers and stakeholders across 9 local government areas, building greater inclusivity in workplaces and the wider community.
Read about Phil's Expanding Horizons journey
We would like to thank everyone who worked with the project team to deliver this success.
Project background
With 1 in 6 people in Australia estimated to have a disability, Expanding Horizons provides businesses with support to:
Benefits to being an inclusive business
Some of the recognised benefits to business when employing a candidate with disability are:
Research shows that employing candidates with disability makes for good business, social and economic sense. Everyone benefits from an inclusive and diverse workforce – fellow workers, the business, customers and the community as a whole.
More information and support
1 in 6 people in Australia are estimated to have a disability. 48% of working age people with disability are employed, compared with 80% without disability. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, People with disability in Australia 2022)
Australian Government Disability Employment Support:
The Australian Government offers various services to support both job seekers and employers. These include:
JobAccess: Employers can access information, advice, and resources on hiring candidates with disabilities through the JobAccess hub. These resources include: information on wage subsidies (subject to eligibility criteria and funding caps) and the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF), which supports the costs of making workplace changes if required.
Disability Employment Services (DES): The DES program supports people with disabilities, injuries, or health conditions in finding and maintaining employment.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS): The NDIS can fund supports in employment for participants who need extra help to pursue their employment goals.
Research and resources
Find out more
If you are a business keen to embrace diversity and inclusion in your workplace, please contact michelle.bloch@monash.vic.gov.au