providing a mainstream recruitment service for people with disability.

The unemployment rate for people with disability is more than double the rate of people without disability, the employment outcomes for people with disability have been difficult to raise over the last 20 years. Yet we know from our work with disability inclusion specialists Get Skilled Access, people with disability can be highly successful in supportive and flexible organisations.

Providing recruitment services to all, free from bias, is something that is inherent in Randstad’s values. So with this in mind, I am delighted to announce that Get Skilled Access (GSA) and Randstad have been awarded a grant by the Department of Social Services (DSS) to try something new. The grant will enable us to create an additional resource to the current disability employment system. We’ve called the pilot, RecruitAble.

The pilot's aim is to reduce the employment gap for people with disability by changing attitudes to hiring people with disability and making the process easier and inclusive for all through mainstream recruitment providers. Randstad and GSA will work with companies to create a process where candidates who identify as having a disability can approach and work with recruitment agencies to find work as an additional resource to a DES provider.

Minister for Families and Social Services and Minister for Women’s Safety, Anne Ruston, said the RecruitAble pilot program will help increase employment outcomes for people with disability by building the capacity of employers and the mainstream recruitment sector. 

"The Australian Government is committed to removing barriers to employment for people with disability to help them find and keep a job," Minister Ruston said.

"The pilot will involve large employers and small-medium enterprises to test inclusive recruitment pathways and develop a best practice approach for recruitment of people with disability."

The pilot will be externally evaluated by La Trobe University and the findings will help inform future reforms under the National Disability Employment Strategy.  This strategy was created by the National Disability Employment Advisory Committee of which Kerry McQuillan, Queensland State Director and Randstad’s National D&I Lead is a member.

The Employment Strategy will be a key element of the Federal Government’s new ten year National Disability Strategy, a commitment across all levels of government to create a more inclusive society where people with disability can reach their full potential.

This is a great opportunity for Randstad as we strive to change the face of disability recruitment in Australia. We look forward to sharing more about the pilot and it’s achievements soon.