This week (26 – 30 November), employers all over the country are opening their doors to job seekers with disability for a single day as part of AccessAbility Day.
For Windsor coffee shop, The Low Road, the decision to offer the one day experience to local barista, Arra was a simple one.
The Low Road owner Ben Corbett said that it’s too easy for society to label people and put them in a box.
“We all have to be a bit better at seeing past that and giving people a go.
“If you’re a nice person – you’re a nice person. If you make a good coffee – you make a good coffee.”
“We really enjoyed having Arra join us for a few hours,” Ben said.
Arra, who has seven years’ experience in hospitality, said being involved in AccessAbility Day was a worthwhile experience.
“I really enjoyed the chance to work in the café, and the team at The Low Road were so welcoming and so much fun,” Arra said.
“Often employers think that because I have a disability it means that I can’t do something. But the fact that I’ve connected with EPIC shows I want to work.”
“It can be difficult to find long-term work. This was like a work trial, and I’m hopeful that after today the team at The Low Road will be able to tell their contacts all about my skills.
“It was a great morning – they were definitely my kind of people,” Arra said.
The Low Road partnered with Windsor-based disability employment services provider EPIC Assist to make the match with Arra.
EPIC Assist CEO, Bill Gamack said that the organisation’s focus in on making sustainable employment placements and opportunities like this are instrumental.
“We’re proud to be supporting AccessAbility Day – an Australian Government initiative aimed at connecting employers and job seekers,” Bill said.
“AccessAbility Day provides an opportunity for businesses to explore hiring people with disability, without any commitment, and in a supportive environment.
“The initiative provides an opportunity for employers to see how employing a person with disability can be an advantage to the organisation.
“Just because someone has a disability, doesn’t mean they’re not a good worker,” he said.
Anyone interested in providing an employment opportunity for a job seeker with disability is encouraged to contact EPIC Assist on 13 EPIC (13 3742).