A new employment strategy for the Australian Public Service (APS) has been announced, making the employment of people with disability a “mainstream part of the APS culture”.
Unveiled by the Ministers for Families and Social Service as well as Government Services on International Day of People with Disability, the Australian Public Service Disability Employment Strategy 2020-25 sets the direction for all Public Service Agencies as employers.
According to the Ministers it focuses on the attraction, recruitment and retention of more people with disability at all levels within the APS, in addition to creating more accessible workplace cultures and environments.
Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Anne Ruston said the strategy set a goal to increase the employment of people with disability across the APS to seven per cent by 2025, up from 3.7 per cent in 2019.
“It demonstrates our ongoing commitment to ensuring people with a disability have equal opportunities in the APS and recognises the significant contribution they make to the workforce,” Ms Ruston said.
“Meaningful employment is an absolute game-changer in anybody’s life and that shouldn’t be any different for somebody with a disability.”
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Stuart Robert highlighted the work the NDIS was doing in supporting people with disability find employment.
“International Day of People with Disability is an important occasion to recognise the more than 400,000 Australians with disability who receive NDIS support,” Mr Robert said.
“The NDIS provides people with significant and permanent disability the support they need to participate fully in their communities including putting practical steps in place to enable more participants to enjoy the benefits of work.”
He said 24 per cent of NDIS participants currently worked with the target well on the way to 30 per cent employment by 30 June 2023.”
The Australian Public Service Disability Employment Strategy 2020-25 was developed by a cross-Agency team led by the Australian Public Service Commission, following consultation with people with disability, from within and outside the APS.
The 36-page Strategy can be accessed at this PS News link.
