New employment platform to help people with disabilities welcomed by WorklinkWA chief executive

WorklinkWA chief executive Ben Killey has welcomed the launch of a new online platform designed to help West Australians with disability find employment. National Disability Services has developed Disability Jobs Connect in conjunction with WA company Studium after receiving a $400,000 Lotterywest grant. Mr Killey said his organisation was running a pioneering training program for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants seeking open employment at award rates. “The success of that program depends on finding the employer and roles to match,” he said. “The new platform is welcomed to complement our local work in Albany and the Great Southern, and face-to-face relationships with people you know.” The Disability Jobs Connect platform has been designed to invert the approach taken by other employment platforms, allowing jobseekers to create profiles to showcase their skills, values and interests in the way that best suits and describes them. Disability employment service providers can upload profiles on behalf of their clients to support them through their process. Employers also create profiles outlining the talent group they need. By searching with filters, jobseekers and employers can then connect to explore employment opportunities. About 500 employers have already signed up to the platform, which was launched last week. Mr Killey said connections and networks remained the key to landing a job. “This platform is more so for people with unique abilities,” he said. “Similar to people with niche skills finding the right job, people with disability thrive as dedicated, fulfilled and committed team members in the right environment, responsibilities and roles. “This matching, networking and connecting is vital.” Disability Services Minister Don Punch said employment statistics for people with disabilities were confronting. “People with disability aged 15-64 are twice as likely to be unemployed as those without disability,” he said. “Concurrently, WA has a serious workforce shortage and while many organisations are ready and willing to employ people with disability, they sometimes don’t know where to start. Mr Killey said the new platform would be useful for those willing to enter new industries. “Particularly in regions, with distances and out-of-the-way jobs and industries, getting them visible can really help a person identify, set a goal and make plans to get that job,” he said. “We are all better off with increased participation, employers having greater access to the range of talents for their teams, jobs filled, and people living fuller lives in each of our towns.” In mid-2021, Activ stopped offering its site-based employment services for people with disability in Albany — a decision that was described as “devastating” by the mother of one of 26 local employees at the time.