Disability Awareness Week focus on employment

Employment, access and inclusion are the focus of this year's Disability Awareness Week, which runs all this week through to the United Nations-sanctioned International Day of People with Disability on Saturday (December 3).
  • Employment, access and inclusion for people with disability

  • Aligns with existing Liberal National Government projects for inclusive communities 

Employment, access and inclusion are the focus of this year's Disability Awareness Week, which runs all this week through to the United Nations-sanctioned International Day of People with Disability on Saturday (December 3).

Disability Awareness Week has been held in Western Australia since 2009, and aligns with the annual international day on December 3.  This year, WA is focusing its activities on United Nations Sustainable Goal 8: to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and full and productive employment for all.

Disability Services Minister Donna Faragher said the focus of Disability Awareness Week highlighted the work the Liberal National Government had been doing all year to create inclusive, accessible communities.

"The public sector's 'See my abilities' disability employment strategy and the Lighthouse Project - a disability employment collaboration with local governments that has received $800,000 in State Government funding - have been highly successful programs run this year," Mrs Faragher said.

"Both reflect the theme of Disability Awareness Week, which is about raising awareness of the economic and social benefits to the community of people with disability being full participants in the workforce."

Throughout the week, the Disability Services Commission will share on its website and social media channels, the stories of people with disability who work in the public sector. Their stories describe the highlights and challenges of their employment.

"These stories show the great diversity and significant contribution of people with disability in the State Government.  I can only hope that seeing the skills and abilities of these individuals can prompt other employers to have a stronger focus on inclusion of people with disability within their own workforce," the Minister said.

The importance of access and inclusion will be highlighted throughout the week at events around the State, promoting the participation of people of all abilities in employment, recreation and community activities.

These include events supported by $500 seed grants from the Commission. Disability Awareness Week banners will hang in Perth's Murray Street Mall.

Fact File

Minister's office - 6552 5300


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