DISCLOSURE OF DISABILITY A COMPLEX ISSUE

Most employers agree that it would be easier if jobseekers and employees with disability disclosed their disability and the information could be captured within monitoring systems and accurate reporting could be produced.  However, this seminar provided a platform for discussion on why people with disability may or may not disclose and the steps that organisations need to consider.

Robin Banks, CEO, Public Interest Advocacy Centre, outlined a variety of definitions of disability and reminded the audience that self-identification of ‘having a disability’ is a highly complex construct.  

Kate Dawson from the Australian Public Service Commission provided an overview of the Commission’s approach to measurement and reporting and the need to comply with privacy legislation.  Maxine Lacey, from ANU outlined the web based disclosure tool Disclosure: Choosing Your Path - It's a Personal Decision which was well received for it’s practical information.

It is unlikely that any organisation will achieve accurate statistics on the number of people with disability employed due to the complexity of the issue, however it is evident that there are many steps that organisations can take to make it easier for people to identify as having a disability and for organisations to take to ensure their practices are consistent with contemporary approaches. 

The Australian Employers Network on Disability has resources available from the UK on the topic.  Please call our office on 02 9261 3933 for further information.