Story by Ricardo Gonçalves, Finance Editor

A new report by Jigsaw highlights a huge talent pool not being harnessed.

Jigsaw commissioned YouGov to conduct market research with Australian managers and HR professionals to uncover their attitudes toward – and perceived barriers to – the employment of people with disability.

With a backdrop of a Disability Royal Commission and reform of existing Australia Government Disability Employment Services (DES), Jigsaw aims to raise awareness and uncover the barriers to achieving inclusivity of Australians with disability in the workforce.

Paul Brown, chief executive of disability employment organisation Jigsaw, says in the tight labour market, it’s time for a “seismic shift in how employers engage with the disability workforce”.

The Jigsaw research comes as big firms including Westpac and Allianz urge employers facing staff shortages to recruit applicants with a disability.

By Tom McIlroy, Political reporter

Major firms including Westpac and Allianz have urged employers facing staff shortages to recruit applicants with a disability, backing in a push by the Albanese government on lifting barriers to meaningful work.

Ahead of September’s jobs and skills summit, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth has been charged with driving cultural change among corporate bosses and peak industry groups, as 480,000 positions sit vacant nationally.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers this week announced expanding employment opportunities would be a focus of the jobs summit.

New research by disability employment organisation Jigsaw shows half of Australian managers and HR executives said they had never hired or worked with a person with disability, despite 2.1 million Australians with disability being of working age. Just 47.8 per cent of the cohort are employed.

Nearly 80 per cent of Australian businesses told researchers that job-ready applicants with disability could help address labour shortages worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barriers existed for 65 per cent of employers, who said they were unsure how or where to access potential workers with a disability. Jigsaw found 91 per cent of businesses that have hired a person with disability using the federal government’s Disability Employment Services (DES) system faced challenges in hiring and retaining candidates.

“In a workforce as tight as we’re currently facing, it’s time for a seismic shift in how employers engage with the disability workforce, and how governments support them to do so,” chief executive Paul Brown said.

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Read the rest of the article on the AFR website here (paywall) or click below to read a PDF.

By Nas Campanella, ABC News

Jigsaw trainee Olivia and Jigsaw Transitions Coordinator, Michael were featured on ABC News on Monday 22 November 2021.

The news story marked the start of the Royal Commission’s hearing on measures taken by employers and regulators to respond to systemic barriers to open employment for people with disability.

The story features Jigsaw trainee Olivia as a case study of a pathway to employment that has been successful, and the myriad of benefits to employees and employers when inclusive workplaces are created.

By Ethan Hamilton, Newcastle Herald

Avenue Newcastle was officially opened on Wednesday 23 February! The ‘day program alternative’ in Warabrook has been growing with enormous success with already around 50 participants taking part in both our work and social programs.

Avenue participant, Julie Clifton works in Avenue’s Order Fulfilment team packaging items and managing stock take with our micro-business partners, including Borne Clothing – a social enterprise that sells mosquito repellent shirts. Julie shared her story with the Newcastle Herald.

“It’s been hard trying to find somewhere to work because no where has given me the opportunity to show my skills,” Julie said.

“But Avenue is something to come to everyday to boost my confidence and gain important skills.”

By PAUL WALLBANK, Information Age

Fighting Chance and Hireup founders Laura O’Reilly OAM and co-founder Jordan O’Reilly are the winners of the 2021 NSW Pearcey Award for Tech Entrepreneur of the Year.

Laura and Jordan received the award on Thursday night, in recognition of their work as leading tech entrepreneurs and for Hireup’s role in assisting the disability sector.

Jamila Gordon, chair of the Pearcey NSW judging committee and recipient of the 2020 NSW Award said “Jordan and Laura have been selected as the recipients of the 2021 Pearcey NSW Entrepreneur of the Year Award due to the incredible impact their purpose-for-profit business Hireup has had on the Australian disability sector.”

By HELEN TRINCA

The Weekend Australian magazine has featured a story on the history of the O’Reilly family and the beginning of Fighting Chance and Hireup.

“The tone was set by both my parents, but particularly my dad, that come what may we look after each other, we protect each other, we fight for each other,” Laura O’Reilly says.

“My father was absolutely dedicated to Shane, he was determined to give Shane absolutely everything that he could. And that has really influenced Jordy and me now in the work that we do in the Australian disability sector.”

Told his disabled son couldn’t attend a school camp, David O’Reilly’s response was indignant: ‘We’ll see about that.’ 

Click the link below to read the inspirational story on how Fighting Chance was born. The story of CEO and co-founder Laura O’Reilly OAM and co-founder Jordan O’Reilly’s family, their parents relentless dedication and their battle to give their brother Shane a fighting chance.

Laura O’Reilly was selected as one of nineteen individuals to receive an award in the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List. The awards are designed to recognise and celebrate outstanding Australians, ordinary people who do extraordinary things for their local community and for Australia. Laura O’Reilly received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to people with disability. Laura is the co-founder of Fighting Chance, an innovative organisation based in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, set up by herself and her brother Jordan O’Reilly. The siblings saw how hard it was for their disabled yet talented brother, Shane O’Reilly, to get work after he finished schooling. Fighting Chance is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2011 that provides opportunities for Australians with disability to overcome difficulties in gaining employment and work experience. 

Fighting Chance co-founder and CEO Laura O’Reilly has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for outstanding service to the disability sector. Laura’s award was announced on 14th June as part of the Governor General’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List. She was nominated for the award as a result of her hard work, dedication and considerable contribution to empowering people with disability since 2011. Laura co-founded the social enterprise Fighting Chance in 2011 with her brother Jordan, after she recognised the inequalities faced by her younger brother Shane, who had profound Cerebral Palsy. Fighting Chance was founded in response to societal limitations experienced by those with disability, in areas including education, employment, accomodation and more.