Small change, big impact
When you employ a person living with disability, injury or health condition, very often, they do not need any specific workplace changes to be effective in their job. For those that do, some form of modification or adjustment will help them to thrive in their new role and build a more equitable and inclusive workplace.
For employers, it’s very easy to make workplace adjustments to remove barriers to employment when needed.
atWork Australia can help you access funding for workplace modifications for your new employee, at no cost to your business.
Hear from Tracey who had knee surgery which meant she needed a small workplace modification. To read a transcript of this video click here.
What is a workplace adjustment?
Workplace adjustments allow a person to do their job safely and productively, in an inclusive environment. They’re very often the only thing that distinguishes someone living with disability in the workplace.
Here are some examples:
- Allowing a person living with disability to have some flexibility in their working hours, such as working part-time, starting and finishing later, or working from home for part of the week
- Introducing fair, more equitable recruitment processes, such as standardised interviews
- Redistributing minor duties (not inherent requirements of a job) that a person living with disability finds difficult to do
- Buying or modifying equipment, such as speech recognition software for someone with vision impairment, or an amplified phone for a person who is hearing impaired
- Height-adjustable work stations
Funding for workplace adjustments
atWork Australia can help your business access funding from the Australian Government to cover the costs of making workplace changes relevant to your employee’s barrier. If you need to buy equipment, make modifications or access services for your new employee, help is at hand to manage the application process at no cost to you or your business.
Some examples of specific workplace modifications that are eligible for funding include:
- Making adjustments to the physical workplace
- Modifications to work vehicles
- Special equipment for the workplace
- Information and communication devices
- Auslan interpreting services
- Specialist services for employees living with specific learning disorders and mental health conditions
- Disability awareness training for the workplace
- Mental health awareness training
Small workplace adjustments help Biannca to thrive
atWork Australia client, Biannca was born with complete hearing loss, and she was also living with mental health conditions including anxiety.
When she came to atWork Australia in Moe, Latrobe Valley in Victoria, she was concerned she would have limited opportunities available to her. She worried about finding an employer that would be understanding of her barriers.
With the support of the atWork Australia team, Biannca was successful in obtaining employment in 2021 with an inclusive and supportive employer in a cleaning role.
“This role has given Biannca the opportunity to be self-reliant while also allowing her to manage her mental health through small adjustments,” said In-Work Support Consultant, Sam.
The employer also provides her with instructions that are in an easy-to-read format and sends her to locations that are easily accessible.