UOW a finalist in PM’s disability awards

The University of Wollongong was a finalist in this year’s Prime Minister’s Employer of the Year Awards acknowledging excellence in the employment of people with a disability.

Now in their 17th year, the awards recognise the contribution made by small, medium, large and national employers. UOW was chosen as a finalist in the category of “Large Employer of the Year Award”. The winner in the category, announced recently in Canberra, was the Hunter New England Area Heath Service.

UOW’s Director of Employment, Equity and Diversity, Lynne Wright, said that the University had embraced technology as one means of accommodating the needs of its staff with disability.

“The provision of Braille Note, digital scanning and audio recording, for example, greatly supports employees with disability in doing their jobs,” Lynne said.

“The University’s commitment to employing people with disability is also reflected in its use of leading edge recruitment strategies, provision of employment pathways and strategies for retaining people with disability.

“One of our recruitment strategies is to use casual or short-term appointments to provide experience and training for people with disability. The strategy builds the employee’s confidence and skills, making them job-ready for a permanent position at the University.

“People with disability are employed across a broad spectrum of occupations at the University. Academic staff with disability, in particular, provide positive role models for students,” Lynne said.

Last reviewed: 14 August, 2007