feature
All in a day’s work
Daniel Valiente-Riedl (pictured right), General Manager,
JobAccess, shares advice on getting the right workplace
modifications and support with the Employment Assistance Fund.
A
t JobAccess, we are
The EAF gives financial help
the information as text into her order
passionate about what we to eligible people with disability book. Martha now has better control
do – removing barriers to and mental health conditions, and of her orders, which helps her to keep
employers, to buy work-related her business going – a great outcome
modifications and services. for Martha and her customers.
disability employment.
We know that people with disability
bring a diverse range of skills and
Since 2006, JobAccess has
It’s worth noting that not all
qualifications to work, and can do a received over 257,000 enquiries people with disability require
wide range of jobs, making significant and managed over 35,000 EAF changes to their workplace, and some
contributions to organisations around applications. You may be surprised changes are low, or no cost at all, like
Australia every day. at the wide range of modifications flexible working hours for a person
and support that have been funded with a mental health condition.
We know that despite this, many
people with disability still face – these can be small or large, involve challenges in getting or keeping a new assistive technologies or simple to implement but make a huge
job, or progressing their career. We changes to work routines, and even difference to someone’s ability
also know that it doesn’t have to be includes awareness training and to work. In addition, a workplace
this way. AUSLAN interpreting to support that is open to flexible working
Finding and putting into use
Modifications can be easy
workmates. However, all applications arrangements reflects good staff
the right workplace changes and share the same goal – removing management practice, and offers
support can help overcome these barriers to disability employment. real benefits to the business and all
challenges and provide the benefits
Take Martha’s case as an example.
employees, not just employees with
that come with a diverse and inclusive Martha, a hat maker, looked for disability. And that’s really what it’s
workplace. advice on how to manage work with all about.
It’s all in a day’s work for our the onset of Multiple Sclerosis. She
JobAccess Advisers – fully qualified, found taking orders was physically
health professionals who advise straining, and she was having some
on managing disability at work neuromuscular fatigue and cognitive
and provide tailored suggestions memory difficulties.
that meet your needs. This
JobAccess found a solution for
includes organising free workplace Martha, through the purchase of
assessments and advising on a Smart Pen that was reimbursed
workplace changes and support through the EAF. The Smart Pen
that may be reimbursed through the records everything that Martha
Australian Government’s Employment hears or writes, then downloads the
Assistance Fund (EAF). recording to her computer, and copies
linkonline.com.au
www.jobaccess.gov.au
Job Access
provides
information
for people
with disability.
mobility
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