Employer Disability Confidence: Moving Towards a Theory-Based Change Logic

The term 'disability confidence' is increasingly used to describe employer capability and is used in government policy and programs. However, there is little definitional clarity about what it is, how it is attained or how it can be measured. The main goal of the research was to create a clear and useful model to understand employer disability confidence. This model will help to explain the elements of employer confidence in hiring people with disabilities.

This research is important as it can help create better policies about supporting employer capacity and programs to increase employer disability confidence. By understanding what makes employers confident about hiring people with disabilities, we can design better ways to support them. This will make it easier for people with disabilities to get jobs and for employers to feel more comfortable and capable in hiring them.

Objective

The primary objective of this research was to develop a conceptual model of employer disability confidence. This model aims to fill the definitional and theoretical gap in current practices and literature, providing a theory-based and action-oriented framework to support the employment of people with disabilities.

Key Findings

• The research proposes that employer disability confidence is the sum of attitudes towards hiring people with disabilities, perceived social expectations, and the perception of control over factors that enable and hinder employment in the employer's environment.
• The study highlights the need for further research to test and refine the proposed model.

Recommendations

The research suggests that a theory-based framework can guide the design and evaluation of policies and interventions. It calls for further development and testing of the model to ensure it captures diverse experiences and adequately describes employer disability confidence across different contexts.

***This publication honours the legacy of Dr Kevin Murfitt (Deakin University), a valued colleague of co-author Professor Erin Wilson and of many across the sector.