02 December 2021

Working towards a more disability inclusive society

Australia Post has an important role to play in improving inclusion and access for people with disability. As an employer, a service provider and a community member, we understand how important it is for people with disability to lead the conversation and participate in building a more disability inclusive Australia.

Video: An office worker closes a Parcel Locker, then steers his wheelchair away, a parcel sitting on his lap. White text reads, "Find out how Australia Post is helping build a more inclusive and accessible world."

A white-haired man wearing a dark suit jacket over an open-necked white shirt stands beside a bank of Parcel Lockers. Text: "Paul Graham, Group CEO and Managing Director, Australia Post."

Audio: Paul: With more than four million people in Australia living with disability and over 5.6% of our own team members identifying as having a disability, Australia Post has an important role to play in building a more inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID world, both for our own team members with disability and for the customers and communities we serve.

Video: A man wearing a white polo shirt emblazoned with logos reading "Australia Post" and "Accessibility Matters" uses a swipe card to open an internal office door. A round sign on the door has the words "Low Energy Power Operated Door" below the disabled icon of a stick figure wheelchair user.

Audio: Paul: I've also been struck by the visibility and impact of our Accessibility Matters team reference group. In the past two years, this network has really grown to take a leadership role in driving for change.

Video: The office worker steers his wheelchair up to the bank of Parcel Lockers. He takes his phone out, then reaches up and uses the Parcel Locker touch screen, which is just above his eye level.

Audio: Paul: We recently became Australia's largest employer to be certified as a Disability Confident Recruiter, which means we're well placed to keep expanding our access to diverse talent pools and to keep on creating more rewarding employee opportunities for people with disability in our teams.

Video: The man wearing the Accessibility Matters polo shirt is interviewed in an office.
Text: "Harry Zac, Capability Specialist, Transformation and Enablement, Accessibility Matters co-chair." Harry gazes out the window at a cityscape of skyscrapers and trees.

Audio: Harry: There are so many different disabilities, and a lot of them are hidden disabilities that people can't see and can't diagnose. Mine's a hidden disability. I've empowered a lot of other people to now be working for Australia Post and identify as having a disability and being proud of it. There's a lot of talent out there that is not being considered because they're perceived to have a disability. We take the 'dis' out of it and we just call it an ability.

Video: The Australia Post logo appears on a red screen. Below, the words "Australia Post Inclusion" appear beside a magnifying glass search icon.

Inclusion is a crucial part of building a strong society and in essence means that no-one is left behind. International Day of People with Disability is a chance to reflect on where we are at with disability inclusion and what to focus on next. The theme for this year is ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world’.

Australia Post has an important role to play both for our own team members with disability, and for the customers and communities we serve.

Australia Post Group CEO & Managing Director, Paul Graham

Millions of people across Australia live with disability. Almost 1 in 5 Australians identifies as having disability, and this increases to 1 in 4 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait people. Older people are also more likely to acquire disability, with the incidence increasing to 2 in 5 people. In addition, over 10% of Australians are carers for a person with disability, with 7 in 10 of these carers identifying as women¹.

What is a disability?

When we talk about disability, we mean any condition that restricts a person’s mental, sensory or mobility functions whether caused by accident, trauma, genetics or disease. A disability may be temporary or permanent, total or partial, lifelong or acquired, visible or invisible.

It’s important to remember that not all disability is visible. 10% of Australians have dyslexia, which is around 2 million people. 25% of Australians - or around 4.96 million people - will experience an anxiety condition in their lifetime.² Australia Post understands the importance of making the workplace, and their products and services accessible and recognises the importance of making workplace adjustments for our team members who require this.

There are so many different disabilities and a lot of them are hidden. Mine’s a hidden disability - people will look at me and say there’s nothing wrong with you!

Co-chair of Australia Post’s Accessibility Matters Employee Reference Group, Harry Zechariah

Download our 2020-2022 Accessibility and Inclusion plan (PDF 5MB)

What is Disability Accessibility and Inclusion?

Disability inclusion means that individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in every aspect of life and employment to the fullest extent. These opportunities, whether through employment or outside of work, include participation in education, employment, public health programming, community living, and service learning.

Disability accessibility is when the needs of people with disabilities are specifically considered, and products, services, and facilities are built or modified so that they can be used by people of all abilities. This is especially important when applying to employees with disabilities.

Supporting people with disability at Australia Post

We launched our first Accessibility and Inclusivity Action Plan nine years ago. Currently, over 5.7% of our employees identify as having a disability³. We recently became Australia’s largest employer to be recognised as a Disability Confident Recruiter.

Australia Post received these letters from a couple of young fellas who hadn’t worked anywhere before because they had disabilities and were considered, or they considered themselves, unemployable. We were able to get these guys in as Christmas casuals.

Co-chair of Australia Post’s Accessibility Matters Employee Reference Group, Harry Zechariah

A man wearing a red and white Australia Post collared T-shirt. The words on the image read “Harry Zac Capability Specialist, Transformation & Enablement, Accessibility Matters co-chair”

The Accessibility Matters Employee Reference Group is one driving force behind the increase in inclusion and access for people with disability and their carers at Australia Post. The group actively advises senior leaders and provides insights and feedback. Customer feedback has also led to us improving the accessibility of our Parcel Lockers. Customers can now pick a lower Parcel Locker if that’s more convenient for them.

In the past two years this network has really grown to take a leadership role in driving for change – from designing dignified access to our workspaces, to helping us design more accessible and inclusive products and services for all our customers.

Australia Post Group CEO & Managing Director, Paul Graham

Members of the Accessibility Matters group are currently involved in the design of our new Richmond premises. Through applying universal design principles, we’re working to create a shared space which is accessible, comfortable and welcoming to staff and customers alike.

I've had the privilege of considering the work of the Disability Matters Employee Reference Group and their efforts to ensure people with disability are given opportunities in leadership roles but also their emphasis on active and meaningful participation of people with disability now and in the future.

Disability Discrimination Commissioner and Australia Post Stakeholder Council member, Dr Paul Gauntlett

Working to set Access and Inclusion standards

Our focus on access and inclusion doesn’t stop with the workplace. When we host live events for our team or our community, inclusion practices considered include AUSLAN interpretation, live captions, transcripts and dedicated support for attendees who are People with Disability. For the first time, our Spread the Merry Christmas TV campaign is now audio described.

The international Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set accessibility standards for all digital products. This includes websites, apps, emails and anything else that you might read or engage with on your phone, tablet or computer. While these guidelines are not mandated for every business, Australia Post works to an ‘AA’ standard, which is above the suggested minimum.

This means that People with Disability, for example, people who use a screen reader on the internet, require a lower reading age for fuller comprehension or are colour blind, will have their needs accounted for.

Video: An office worker closes a Parcel Locker, then steers his wheelchair away, a parcel sitting on his lap. White text reads, "Find out how Australia Post is driving positive change."
A man in a grey suit and blue tie is interviewed against a blurred background.
Text: "Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner."

Audio: Ben: As we mark International Day of People with Disability this year, I want to acknowledge the great work that Australia Post is doing in the leadership and participation for people with disability both inside Australia Post and in the broader community.

Video: A man wearing a white polo shirt emblazoned with logos reading "Australia Post" and "Accessibility Matters" uses a swipe card to open an internal office door. A round sign on the door has the words "Low Energy Power Operated Door" below the disabled icon of a stick figure wheelchair user.

Audio: Ben: As a member of the Australia Post Stakeholder Council, I've had the privilege of considering the work of the Accessibility Matters Employee Reference Group and their efforts to ensure that people with disability are given opportunities in leadership roles, but also their emphasis of active and meaningful participation of people with disability now and in the future.

Video: A woman in a grey top is interviewed before pale curtains.
Text: "Sarah Radcliffe, Retail Network Tasmania, Accessibility Matters member."

Audio: Sarah: My condition has given me the ability to adjust, find ways around problems and become very resilient. Without my condition, I wouldn't be who I am today. Is the pandemic a catalyst for change? There are less excuses not to employ people with disabilities. Now that using varied ways of working, studying and collaborating is more mainstream, we need to use it to facilitate higher levels of inclusivity. We had the technology before COVID-19. Society just needs to change perceptions of what people with disabilities can do. So at this point in time, we have the momentum to push inclusitivity...inclusivity. So let's keep it up and let's speak up.

Ben: Please keep up the good work.

Video: The Australia Post logo appears on a red screen. Below, the words "Australia Post Inclusion" appear beside a magnifying glass search icon.

As we mark International Day of People with Disability this year, I want to acknowledge the great work that Australia Post is doing in the leadership and participation for people with disability both inside Australia Post and in the broader community.

Disability Discrimination Commissioner and Australia Post Stakeholder Council member, Dr Paul Gauntlett

We hope that people and businesses across Australia will get behind increasing active participation and partnership with people with disability. Unlocking opportunities for everyone how we can create a more accessible and inclusive society.

Read our 2020-2022 Accessibility and Inclusion plan (PDF 5MB) to learn more about how we’re making our workplace, products and services more inclusive and accessible for everyone.

Download the Easy English version of our Accessibility and Inclusion Plan.

Download now (PDF 5MB)

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¹ Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2019, 4430.0 - Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia 2018

² ABS National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007 (2008), p 27

³ Australia Post Workforce Metrics August 2020 and Employee Engagement Survey March 2019