Foreword
The employment of people with disability is a critical issue for all Australians.
However, the rate of employment of people with disability in Australia has remained stagnant for
decades. As a country, we need to do more. We know employment and economic participation
are good for an individual’s self-esteem, health and financial independence. These benefits are
magnified for people with disability.
The justification that is often forgotten when discussing the employment of people with disability
is the long-term benefit to the employer. People with disability are hard-working and diligent
employees who enable organisations to better understand and cater for a significant group of
people in the community.
We need to explore novel and unique methods to ensure people with disability obtain not just a
job, but a good job.
One method an employer can use to increase its number of employees with disability is to
undertake a targeted recruitment strategy, which is a recruitment campaign that solely targets
people with disability. This is potentially a form of ’special measure’ that makes such a targeted
campaign lawful under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (Disability Discrimination Act)
and state and territory equal opportunity or anti-discrimination legislation.
There are many misconceptions concerning targeted recruitment campaigns, and the Guidelines
for the Targeted Recruitment of People with Disability (the Guidelines) seek to ameliorate some
of those concerns. In short, aside from New South Wales (and noting the particular view adopted
in Tasmania), there is no need to get any form of authorisation before undertaking a targeted
recruitment campaign provided that it can be considered a ’special measure’.
Guidelines for the targeted recruitment of people with disability | 6