Inclusive hiring at the heart of project for people with cognitive impairment

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A new South Australian program is hoping to change the perception around employing people with a cognitive disability in the hospitality and retail sectors. Four Adelaide hotels have so far signed up to the programs and their new recruits are already becoming popular staff members.

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00:00Months into his new job and Thomas Doherty has become a friendly face for guests at this

00:07Adelaide hotel.

00:08Thomas is such a personality, he has the warmest heart, he has a really great connection with

00:16guests.

00:17I love it.

00:18Everyone in the team has been great and supportive.

00:21We're going to set up this table first, so you need to wipe the table.

00:26Thomas is one of 14 people involved in a pilot program run by the Centre for Social

00:31Impact that creates employment opportunities for people with cognitive disabilities.

00:36It's a passion project for Zhang Yong whose daughter Joanne has a severe cognitive disability

00:41and is both non-verbal and partially deaf.

00:44When you have a child, you hear that your child has a very complex disability, everyone

00:50feels very devastated, like I don't know what to do, how can I raise this child?

00:56Joanne found opportunities in art and her work has been displayed at exhibitions.

01:01Dr Yun is hoping the project can provide others with cognitive disabilities the chance to

01:05find their niche.

01:07Not everyone can work in the supported employment, not everyone can work in the mainstream employment.

01:13There must be a diverse pathway for them to somehow they can engage in socio-economic

01:19participations, but there's really lack of choice.

01:24Employers wanting to be a more inclusive workplace offered support and mentoring.

01:28I'd love to bring more awareness to the industry as a whole, to understand that people with

01:34cognitive disabilities can be so engaging.

01:37According to the latest data by the ABS, only 32% of Australians living with an intellectual

01:42disability are in the workforce, compared to 84% of the general population.

01:47And research shows more than 800,000 Australians with a cognitive disability experience social

01:53isolation.

01:54I don't think necessarily employers are against employing people with disabilities, but I

02:00think they're nervous, they're worried about doing the wrong thing.

02:04It's hoped the program can change that perception and be extended to other states and industries.

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