Lived experience working group enriches disability employment symposium

As an NDIS Partner in the Community, Disability Employment Service provider and Equal Opportunity Employer, SSI recognises the importance of reflecting on our practices to positively impact the lives and experiences of people with disability.

Acknowledging the value of lived experience, we knew that the voices of people with disability needed to be integral to the planning of our disability employment symposium in mid-February. At the helm was Michelle Brown, an ally of SSI local area coordination and a facilitator of SSI’s Ignite program.

The event involved discussions on enhancing the economic participation of individuals with disabilities. Attendees, including government representatives, service providers, and advocacy groups, collaborated to identify effective strategies for recruiting and retaining individuals with disabilities in the workforce.

The working group provided invaluable feedback on key aspects of the symposium, including making the auditorium more accessible, encouraging presenters to provide visual descriptions of themselves for attendees with impaired vision, and even the running order of the day.

“To showcase the experiences of what people with disability go through in terms of employment, we brought [the lived experience panel] to be first… I think that really shaped the day in terms of how things were run,” said Michelle.

Michelle’s desire to amplify the concerns and stories of those with lived experience comes from a personal place.
“I have worked for organisations that weren’t flexible around my needs,” she said, shedding light on the barriers people with disabilities face right from the recruitment stage.
“The advertisements [for most jobs] say you need your licence… I don’t drive so that’s been a big issue in trying to find a job.”

The conversations at the symposium also emphasised that people with disability seeking self-employment should also not be left out of the picture. This was an important message for Michelle, whose role sees her mentoring people with disability to explore and pursue self-employment through entrepreneurship.
“[The symposium] highlighted for me the need for such a program as Ignite,” she said .
“No-one really considers that someone [with a disability] could actually run their own business, so I feel it’s a very valuable program.”

Whilst the symposium highlighted pathways for many critical conversations to be converted into actions, Michelle acknowledges that there is still much work to be done to promote inclusivity in the workplace.

“It’s just the beginning,” clarifies Michelle, who emphasises the need for greater education and awareness surrounding the experiences of people with disabilities.
“In a way, [it] filters down to perhaps why there isn’t change.”

The symposium’s working group underscores SSI’s commitment to advancing the role of people with disabilities in the organisation.
“That’s another way that SSI has been successful; providing opportunities for people,” Michelle said.
“I was proud that the working group made a significant difference on that day, and I also thought it was really great that we were acknowledged in terms of the work we did.”

Through initiatives like the symposium and dedicated programs, SSI is committed to fostering the needs and hopes of people with disability to help make workplaces stronger, and more inclusive.

For more information SSI’s disability services, visit our webpage. You can contact our Local Area Coordination team via the following methods:
Phone: 1800 960 975
Email: ssilac@ndis.gov.au