Disabled shot at jobs

Max Employment National Program Manager of Disability and Employment Services Kate Tilley, St John of God Berwick Hospital CEO Lisa Norman and DVJS Business Development Manager Andy Ernst. 165718_04 Picture: GARY SISSONS

By Bonny Burrows

Jobseekers with a disability will be given a fair chance at employment at St John of God Berwick Hospital.
The hospital and job agencies Max Employment and Dandenong Valley Job Support signed a disability employment collaboration agreement on 8 March.
It means the three organisations will work in partnership to support people with disability to “at least access the interview stage” if a job were to become available at the hospital.
The hospital believes that despite possessing qualifications and experience, very few people with a disability get invited to a job interview.
This is due to “an ill-informed understanding on the part of the employer of what it actually means to give a person with a disability a job”.
“Many people miss out because they have a disability, not because they don’t have the skills,” St John of God Healthcare Group Co-ordinator of Social Justice Advocacy Neal Murphy said.
The healthcare group expects to have an additional 200 caregiver job opportunities once the new $120 million Kangan Drive hospital is complete, providing “a change for people to get what they desperately want – a career in healthcare”.
The hospital said they would provide equal employment opportunities for job seekers, regardless of their disability status.