Raven.
Businesses are being encouraged to include more people with disability in local workplaces.
Disability Action Week, which is supported by Logan City Council, starts tomorrow (Saturday, November 25) and runs until Saturday, December 2.
This year’s theme is Access ignites: it’s good for business.
More than 22,000 people in the City of Logan need daily assistance with core activities due to a severe or profound disability and more than 31,000 people provide unpaid help to someone with disability, Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows.
Lifestyle Chair Councillor Tony Hall said Council’s Disability Action Plan 2023-2025, endorsed earlier this year, builds on two previous plans to better support people with disability.
The plan contains more than 100 actions Council will undertake over the next two years to create a city that continues to be inclusive, accessible and welcoming for people of all abilities.
“Local businesses can play their part by recruiting and retaining staff with disability while also making their premises more accessible to customers living with disability,” Cr Hall said.
Council has helped launch the work careers of five Logan City Special School students by connecting them with a weekly work experience program run by social enterprise Jigsaw Australia.
The students spent eight weeks attending training sessions and receiving hands-on experience within Jigsaw’s commercial operations. They also explored career
goal-setting and post-school options.
The sessions helped build the self-confidence of year 12 student and Slacks Creek resident William Tagaloa and highlighted the opportunities available following his recent graduation.
Economic Development Chair Councillor Jon Raven congratulated William and his fellow Logan City Special School students on their achievements.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to contribute to our community through work,” Cr Raven said.
“William is setting a great example for students of all abilities with his willingness to work.
“Young people are our future, and we’d love to see more opportunities for them to work locally.”
Jigsaw Australia Community Engagement Lead Annabel Lyons thanked Council for providing valuable local connections.
“We are grateful for how Council has supported Jigsaw in our mission to create an Australia in which people with disability are fully included in the workforce,” Ms Lyons said.
