SSI walks the talk towards an inclusive workforce

Stephanie Stevenson-Wong and Jodie Mckane were on hand when AND’s Stephanie
Littlewood presented Javier Ortiz, SSI’s Multicultural Disability Inclusion and
Promotion Officer, with a Disability Confident Recruiter certificate of completion.

DCR status is earned by organisations that understand the benefits of a diverse work force and are committed to ensuring their recruitment and selection processes are inclusive and accessible to people with disability.

SSI has much experience working with recently arrived and migrant communities and knows about the barriers to employment faced by people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, despite their skills and willingness to contribute to their new home.

People with disability are also skilled and capable social and economic contributors, entitled to fair and equitable opportunities in society and this resonates with SSI’s parallel experience of refugee and recently resettled communities.

That is why SSI has decided to adjust its processes and procedures to enable skilled jobseekers with disability to compete for positions on a level playing field, make appropriate adjustments to the recruitment process for candidates who have disability, and provide an excellent candidate experience to all applicants.

As the sixth organisation to receive this acknowledgment (and the first non-disability specific NGO at a national level), this achievement demonstrates how SSI continues to be not only a thought leader in diversity and inclusion but also leading by example and “walking the talk”.

“We want to acknowledge that even though achieving the DCR status is linked to our values of diversity and equity, becoming a disability confident recruiter makes good business sense given our success as a business has stemmed from the diversity of cultures, thoughts and experiences of our staff,” said Caroline Reid, SSI’s Executive Manager for People and Culture.

“Tapping into a larger talent pool facilitated by the adoption of this initiative will continue to add to our success as a business.”

“SSI’s achievement of DCR status and commitment to the inclusion of people with disability is commendable,” said Suzanne Colbert AM, CEO of Australian Network on Disability.

“We look forward to sharing in more of SSI’s successes as they continue their journey and reap the rewards of a diverse workforce that includes people with disability.”

With one in five people in Australia living with disability, ensuring that organisations, businesses and communities are accessible for all will strengthen our society. In doing so, the advantages stemming from living and working in a strong inclusive environment will benefit and enrich everyone’s experience across all areas of life.

For more information on DCR and the DCR Charter, visit the AND website.

To apply for one of our roles at SSI, visit careers at SSI.

SSI values diversity and welcomes applications from Indigenous Australians, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people with disability. If you require an adjustment to the recruitment process, please inform your SSI contact.