feature
Positive paths
Helping People Achieve is
retention rates than people without (DAAP) at Robertson Barracks which
disability and comparable levels of began in April 2017. They are now
of pathways to open productivity. members of a team who have assisted
disability in the Northern Enterprise, HPA currently employs 68 the Barracks, and had the opportunity
people with a moderate disability. to participate in some hospitality
advancing the exploration
employment for people with
Territory.
H
The aim of HPA’s employment
service is to benefit the community
with basic administration duties on
training at the Barracks Café.
HPA Ausdesign Manager, Jodie
PA Chief Executive Officer through the creation and Doyle said: “All candidates attended
Tony Burns said there is a development of employment interviews and were successful in
common misconception opportunities for people with gaining a three-year contract to work
that a person in the workforce with disabilities in integrated settings and part-time with the DAAP Program.
disability or mental illness will require provide the training and ongoing This work is combined with their
much more attention and resources support necessary to enable their roster at HPA and they work in a team
from their employer. success in open employment. of seven at the Robertson Barracks.
“Misunderstanding and lack of
“HPA has a strong record of
“There have already been
awareness has contributed to the achieving success in this role beneficial outcomes for both the
stigma that people with disability or resulting in ongoing opportunity employer and the employee.”
mental illness are more of a liability to to the individuals and benefit to their employer, rather than a valuable the community through sustained to the opportunity to work with
team player,” Mr Burns said. employment,” Mr Burns said. NT Government, corporates and
“But research states that these
perceptions do not match reality.”
Mr Burns said an Australian
study in 2012 found that employees
with disability have a lower
42
As an Australian Disability
“Two HPA Ausdesign employees,
Mr Burns said HPA looks forward
partners to explore the design,
Raymond Roach and Nathan Carrol implementation and funding of this
(pictured above), clearly demonstrate valuable pathway.
and exemplify this belief.”
Ray and Nathan were nominated
“The benefits for those with a
disability and the Northern Territory
number of occupational health and to apply for entry level administration community will be both impactful and
safety incidents, lower workers’ positions in the Defence quantifiable,” he said.
compensation incidence, higher Administration Assistance Program
employment
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