Media

Media release August 2011

“Federal and State politicians should lead from the front in employing people with disability by committing themselves to employing them in each of their electoral offices”, said Peter Rickards, president of systemic advocacy organization, Australians for Disability and Diversity Employment (ADDE) inc.

Rickards drew attention to recent comments from the Australian Council of Social Services that it is worried the Federal Government's plans to get disabled people into the workforce will instead force them onto unemployment benefits. ADDE agrees that if the plan is going to work employers need to be encouraged to take on workers with disabilities. Furthermore, the Government, as a major employer, but with a poor track record of employment of people with disability needed to, “step up and make a commitment to offer the kinds of jobs that people with disability would love to have the opportunity to take.”

The issue of employment for people with disability will not go away. Recent statements made by Graeme Innes (Human Rights Commissioner) that the Federal Government’s performance in employment of people with disabilities in the Federal Public Service is “shameful”, highlight the need for action.

Rickards said, “There is no evidence that State and Local Governments are doing any better as most of them do not measure their performance in employment of people with disabilities. It is all too easy for politicians to blame the previous Government, budgetary issues or say other sectors of the economy should do the right thing while they do nothing about the problem themselves. Here is the perfect opportunity for Federal and State politicians to show the way to the rest of Australia’s employers”.

Rickards, who is a judge with the national Diversity@Work Employer of the Year awards said, “There are very few government and not for profit organizations nominating for awards for good practice disability employment, especially large organizations. This shows that these organizations are not taking their corporate and community responsibilities seriously. However, an initiative such as MP’s employing people with disability as staff in their electoral offices would help to redress this apparent lack of pro-activity and show politicians as disability champions.”

Peter Rickards is contactable on 0407 509117

Media release 30 May 2011

“Federal and State politicians should lead from the front in employment of people with disabilities by committing themselves to employment of people with disabilities in their own electoral office”. Said Mr. Peter Rickards President Australians for Disability and Diversity Employment (ADDE inc).

“We fully endorse the statements made recently by Mr. Graeme Innes (Human Rights Commissioner) that the Federal Government’s performance is shameful in employment of people with disabilities in the Federal Public Service. There is no evidence that State and Local Governments are doing any better as most of them do not measure their performance in employment of people with disabilities”. Said Mr. Rickards “However it is all too easy for politicians to blame the previous Government, budgetary issues or say other sectors of the economy should do the right thing while they do nothing about the problem themselves. Here is the perfect opportunity for Federal and State politicians to show the way to the rest of Australia’s employers”.

Mr. Rickards who is a judge with the national Diversity@Work Employer of the year awards says, “There are very few government and not for profit organizations nominating for awards for good practice disability employment especially large organizations and this shows these organizations are not taking their corporate and community responsibilities seriously”.

Mr. Peter Rickards is contactable on 0407 509117
Commissioner Innes calls for quotas

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The call was made by Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes who told a Senate Estimates Committee in Canberra last week (27th May), that the current situation was “shameful”. read more

Meeting the participation challenge

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ABC Radio national, National Interest

Disabilty Rights Commission U.K.

Clip from Talk by the Disability Rights Commission (UK)

Our mission is to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and from diverse backgrounds in Australia. For those of you who are not aware we were officially formed on September 7, 2005 at Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS).

ADDE promotes pro-active employment policies and practices for disadvantaged groups including people with disabilities, mature age workers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds as well as indigenous people. People who fall into more than one of these categories are recognised as being even more disadvantaged. Therefore, we see a greater need for a change of attitude and awareness.