Diversity Pathways: Employment for all
Promoting greater engagement in employment and social inclusion for people with cognitive disability through building employers' capacity
Diversity Pathways is a South Australian-based pilot project that co-designs disability employment strategies to create employment opportunities for persons with cognitive disability in hospitality and retail.
It is a collaborative research project within the Centre for Social Impact at Flinders University, funded by the Australian Government's Information Linkages and Capacity Building Program.
Diversity Pathways aims to promote greater engagement in employment and social inclusion for people with a disability. It involves co-designing practical solutions with a broad range of stakeholders, including employers, industry partners, disability employment experts, researchers and people with lived experience of disability.
BACKGROUND
Unemployment for people with cognitive disability is a long-standing issue in the Australian workforce. People with cognitive disability often experience limited job choices and barriers to working in diverse industries due to a lack of necessary skills, education, and employment restrictions.
In Australia,
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Diversity Pathways Project has three key objectives;
1. To raise awareness among employers—including those in HR, operations, and leadership—about creating an accessible and inclusive workplace;
2. To enhance employers' capability to hire individuals with cognitive disability and support their continued employment for over six months; and
3. To foster a culture of sharing knowledge and experiences within employer networks, promoting a pay-it-forward mentality.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Since 2022, the Centre for Social Impact Flinders University has collaborated with several hospitality organisations to establish an inclusive employment plan and develop infrastructure aimed to transform their organisational culture and human resource management. Ultimately, creating a proof-of-concept toolkit for disability employment that employers can utilise and implement within their organisations.
Participating South Australian hotels include:
- Mantra Hotel Hindmarsh Square
- SkyCity Adelaide
- AHS Hospitality (Pullman and Ibis)
- Sofitel Adelaide
KEY FINDINGS
So far, 12 people with cognitive disability, including four community researchers at Flinders University, have been employed for over six months at various hospitality establishments. While research is ongoing, four key learnings have already been identified. First, enhancing employers' capacity for disability confidence and knowledge fosters improved accessibility and inclusion within an organisational culture. Second, effective job matching is essential for promoting sustainable employment for individuals with cognitive disabilities. Third, cultivating a culture of inclusive teamwork significantly contributes to the successful employment of both employees with and without disabilities. Finally, exchanging knowledge and experiences among employers regarding disability employment enriches diversity, equity, and inclusion within the hospitality industry.
NEXT STEPS
Next steps for the program involve expanding into the retail sector, broadening its reach to more employers nationwide. By increasing national uptake, we aim to foster greater engagement in diverse job positions and create more sustainable employment opportunities, while promoting social inclusion for people with cognitive disability. This expansion will build on the success of the hospitality sector and further contribute to a more inclusive workforce across diverse industries.
