From confusion to clarity and confidence: 28 of Australia’s top businesses and government agencies benchmark their inclusion of people with disability.
The Australian Network on Disability’s Access and Inclusion Index generates a capability roadmap for organisations to follow. The annual index highlights organisations’ strengths and maturity and provides practical insights on accessibility and inclusion across business operations and this year the top performers are the Federal Department of Human Services, the Australian Taxation Office and ANZ.
While Australian organisations generally have a positive attitude towards customers and employees with disability many are unclear about the steps they need to take to be welcoming and inclusive. A lack of capability rather than a lack of willingness is resulting in Disability Discrimination being the largest area of complaints received by the Australian Human Rights Commission.
The Network’s CEO, Suzanne Colbert said, “These three organisations are making it easier for people with disability to work for them and do business with them. They have developed leading practices that they can share with other employers. Their investment and long-term commitment to access and inclusion for people with disability is to be commended and I warmly congratulate them.”
According to ANZ’s Accessibility and Inclusion Plan Lead, Meg Dalling, the index was a comprehensive and worthwhile exercise that raised awareness of what’s being done across the whole organisation. “I’d definitely encourage other organisations to participate. While it takes a lot of work, there’s a lot to be gained regardless of where you are on the maturity scale,” she said.
Federal Department of Human Services Access and Inclusion Unit assistant director, Clayton Trevilyan said the index helped prioritise some areas where the department could make a real difference.
More than 40 organisations have participated in benchmarking their performance on the index and the eight organisations that benchmarked for the second time improved their maturity scores by almost 20 per cent. This year the Network has seen organisations new to accessibility and inclusion for people with disability take baseline measures so that they can follow the roadmap and make systematic improvements.
Colbert said that organisations don’t have to be confused about how to build their capability and confidence, as the index, and participation in the Benchmark Report gives objective feedback and a roadmap forward. “With over four million Australian’s having some type of disability inclusion matters,” she said.
To find out more about the Benchmark Report, the Index or to become a member of the Australian Network on Disability, visit www.and.org.au, email info@and.org.au or call 1300 363 645.