National

New pilot to boost disability employment

By AAP Newswire

Jan 6, 2023

Work opportunities to people with disability. — The Albanese government will put $3.3 million towards the pilot disability employment program. -AAP Image

The federal government has inked a deal with a key business group for a pilot program designed to close the gap in employment for people with disability.

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The government put aside $3.3 million for the pilot disability employment program in the wake of the jobs and skills summit held in September last year.

The memorandum of understanding between the Business Council of Australia (BCA) and the Albanese government will set the stage for a pilot program that will test new ways to drive organisational change and help businesses improve avenues for employing people with disabilities.

At the moment, only slightly more than half of the 2.1 million Australians with disability of working age are in the labour workforce.

"We also know 93 per cent of working-age people with disability face difficulties finding work due to the lack of suitable employment and perceived limitations of their disability," Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said.

"This new employment pilot seeks to address this and provide significant benefits to people with disability, employers and businesses, the economy and the broader community," she said.

The government and the BCA will co-design the pilot program in collaboration with people living with a disability.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press