Celebrate International Day of People with Disability

Media Statement

I would like to acknowledge International Day of People with Disability and urge Australians to celebrate the many achievements and contribution of people with disability.

I would also like to thank the 2018 International Day of People with Disability patron, Gerrard Gosens OAM, for his continued commitment to raising awareness of the issues faced by the 4.3 million Australians living with disability.

A key focus of the Liberal-National Government is to improve employment outcomes for people with disability.

Encouragingly, since the start of the Disability Employment Services (DES) reforms on 1 July 2018, the average monthly referrals to DES have increased by 38 per cent, compared to the average referrals over the previous two years.

Also noticeable is the overwhelming success of AccessAbility Day, a Government initiative to connect employers with people with disability.

This year, more than 940 organisations participated in the day and more than 1,400 people with disability registered to experience a new workplace to gain insight into a particular job aligned with their career interests.

International Day of People with Disability is a reminder to empower people with disability and to promote inclusiveness and equality across Australia.