People with disabilities make up a significant proportion of the population of all western countries. In 1998 the Australian Bureau of Statistics stated that 19 percent of the population of Australia had some form of disability. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1998).
This large proportion of the Australian population experience levels of unemployment and underemployment far beyond that of their non-disabled fellow citizens. In Australia, as in most western societies today, lack of access to paid employment impacts financially on people with disabilities to the extent that many of them are effectively excluded from full participation in society.
Annison, Jenkinson, Sparrow & Bethune (1996) state that:
‘Participation in employment is highly valued in society. In addition to increased income, other factors such as self identify, development of social relationships, changing work practices that increase the range of skill development, enhanced quality of life and the experience of facing challenges and frustrations in achieving goals are just as important.’
[cited in Mungovan A. and O'Day A. (1997)]
This exclusion is manifest in two forms of disadvantage:
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people with disabilities are up to three times more likely to be unemployed (Thornton P. and Lunt N. 1995) and
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they are more likely to be in the 'poorly paid, low-skilled low status jobs which are both unrewarding and undemanding' (Barnes, 1991 p.65) (Perry, Hendricks and Broadbent (2000) p. 923).
The double disadvantage in the latter trend is that within the new and highly competitive economies, it is just these positions that are increasingly disappearing.
There are two compelling arguments why a society might act to remedy this situation.
The economic case
In a globally competitive market place, nations are striving to maximise the potential contribution of all of their members. The exclusion of a significant number of its people from the mainstream of society impedes this goal and weakens the overall economic potential of Australian society. This was recognised by the Commonwealth Government in its 'Bridging Pathways' document -
‘Over 16% of the Australian working age population has a disability…. (and) are currently not participating in or contributing to our society to anywhere near their full potential.’
(Australian National Training Authority 2000)
The civil case
In a socially just society people with disabilities have a right to equitable access to all the benefits that participation in that society offers. To accept conditions within a society that exclude any of its members from full participation, for reasons beyond their control, is legally and morally indefensible.
One avenue by which people with disabilities can more readily gain employment and compete for positions at a higher level is to complete a higher education degree or undertake Vocational Education and Training (VET). Previous governments have recognized this and have enacted policies that have succeeded in improving access rates of people with disabilities into tertiary education. In the five years since data was first collected in 1996, the number of students with disabilities commencing at University alone has risen by over 60% from 11 656 to 18 926 or over 5% of the total student population (Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs, 2000).
The current Commonwealth Government has stated its commitment to continuing this trend in the belief that this will improve the access to employment of people with disabilities.
'One of the main purposes of education is to inspire and enable individuals to effectively participate in the workforce and take part in and contribute to society……This will lead to a long term increase in the number of people with disabilities gaining access to higher paid and more secure jobs through improved education and training.'
(The 'Australians Working Together' document, Commonwealth Government, 2001)
While evidence suggests that tertiary education and training does indeed improve access to employment, tertiary graduates with disabilities continue to experience lower levels of employment than their non-disabled peers.
It is incumbent upon the developers of social policy to ensure that public monies are utilised in the most effective means possible. They need therefore to identify and address any barriers that may stand in the way of the maximum achievement of successful outcomes of any proposed initiative.
This project undertook to investigate the reasons why graduates with disabilities are not achieving employment rates comparable to their peers, and suggest practical strategies that have proven themselves effective in addressing such issues.