Established in 1994, Life Without Barriers is a not-for-profit organisation that delivers services in more than 500 communities across Australia.
Life Without Barriers is a leading social purpose organisation of 8,000 employees working in more than 500 communities across Australia. We support children, young people and families, people with disability, older people, and people with mental illnesses. We work with people who are homeless and refugees and asylum seekers. Join a community of people dedicated to breaking down barriers.
We believe what unites us are the rights we have and should all enjoy as human beings. Yet the opportunity to live freely, without significant barriers, is not afforded to all Australians. This drives us, a collective of diverse and passionate people to partner through relationships and change lives for the better.
The impact we want to have
This is demonstrated by our impact for the people we support and the communities we serve. It is our reason for being. Our goals for the next 5 years are to:
Provide great services:This is our most important commitment. Great service means truly knowing and appreciating each person we have a relationship with, acting with integrity and honouring our commitments.
Influencing systemic barriers: We will engage in positive and constructive social policy discussions to improve the systems that impact people across a range of circumstances and communities in which we live and work.
Impacting future generations: We will challenge ourselves on the issues that impact future generations by being responsive, imaginative and resilient. The future may be unknown, however, we can rely on purposeful partnerships and courageous thinking to harness evidence, engage with technology and address the impact of climate change.
Careers at Life Without Barriers
Our people and our values are the difference.
The difference we want to make at Life without Barriers is to partner with people to change lives for the better. We can only achieve this by employing great people who understand the value of relationships with the people who trust us to provide their services. That’s why we’re constantly on the lookout for people who are passionate, imaginative and flexible, courageous and responsive and value genuine, long-lasting relationships.
We are specifically interested in creating more employment opportunities for people with disability – please get in touch or set up a vacancy alert through our website
Our people are the soul of what we offer to people choosing our services. Through an inclusive culture underpinned by our values, we want every member of our team to be engaged and committed to providing meaningful outcomes for people who need our support.
We are looking for people who really care about people.
The people who trust us to provide their services come from diverse cultural and social backgrounds with varied life experiences and interests. In our organisation, our role is to be guided by the people we support and help them achieve what they want to from their life.
We also believe you will be at your best when your workplace is inclusive, and you can be your whole self at work, every day.
People with Disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face too many barriers when seeking employment.
Our Accessibility, Inclusion and Employment Plan and our Reconciliation Action Plan both aim to increase our employment of people with disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Our organisation is stronger and more productive when you are part of our collective, so please consider applying today.
Humble company, big perks
Our team is important to us – we want to ensure you feel valued and love working with us. Aside from working for a purpose-driven company striving to make a positive impact, you’ll also be able to access these great perks.
Salary packaging
Discounted health insurance
Discounted vehicle services
Employee Assistance Program
Employee recognition awards
Internal and external training
Rostered day off
Travel club membership
Meet Joanne
Disability support worker
Joanne was a candidate registered with our partner company Joblife Employment – a Disability Employment Provider who help people with disabilities look for work.
After being out of work for 10 years, the opportunity to undertake a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) came her way, this was the beginning of her journey to becoming a Disability Support Worker (DSW) with Life Without Barriers.
“I had been looking for work and had applied for jobs online. Being a stay at home mum, and having been out of work for so many years, I felt I didn’t have any recent skills or experience for work. When I didn’t hear back about jobs, it was disappointing, but I would pick myself up and continue to apply over and over again.
Life Without Barriers identified a gap in attracting suitable candidates for Disability Support Work on the NSW Central Coast.
They devised a plan with Joblife to offer tailored training and work placement to job-seekers interested in working in Disability Support.
“When Sammie from Joblife approached me about the course, I wasn’t sure if I could do it. I have a mild intellectual disability which makes learning, reading and writing difficult for me at times.”
“But the course was just fantastic – I met some really amazing people and had a lot of support. Two days a week we would train in the classroom, and three days a week we would do our work-placement at the Day Programs.
“My first day at the Day Program was busy – I’d never seen anything like it. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but once it settled down and we met the clients, it was great.
“They made me smile and made my day – I had a ball there.
“When I finished my 120 hours of work placement, Sharon the boss of the day program told me I should put in my resume and apply for a job there. I did a group interview session and then a one-on-one interview.”
“I was so nervous and was sure I had stuffed it up. I wasn’t confident at all, but then I got a phone call a couple of weeks later saying I got the job! I felt so proud – I was over the moon and was happy I could finally say I had a job!
“Now I’m working and I love it. Working at Life Without Barriers, it’s actually brought me out of my shell. I’m more confident, talk a lot more and I dance – they have a Dancing Day at the centre – and I wouldn’t normally dance but now I dance all the time! Getting up and dancing with the clients, showing them that you can do it is fun, but also rewarding.
“It makes the clients’ day, and makes my day as well!”
“Life Without Barriers have been very supportive of my disability. They know I still struggle at times with some aspects of reading and writing. They’ve told me ‘don’t worry about it, just take your time and if you have any questions or not sure of anything, don’t hesitate to ask.’
“My writing has improved – I write all the time now! Every day I need to fill out reports as part of my job, and my reading and writing is a lot better!”
Joanne says employers can play a bigger role in helping people with disability into work.
“Just keep getting to know people and what they can do. And support them!”
Meet Paul
Community Rehabilitation Support Worker
Paul’s experience of being a person with disability in the workforce hasn’t always been as positive, he recalls.
“I’ve worked with organisations before, where the norm is not to talk about that stuff [disability or mental health issues].
“The fact that discussion about someone’s disability or mental health isn’t really welcome [in many workplaces] is bad … it’s doing a disservice to the people that work there.
“It’s so important, especially in terms of management, to be an empathetic and understanding individual.”
“Occasionally, like many people, I have a day where my mental health isn’t good. I’m able to tell my manager this, and say, ‘Hey, I’m not going to be in today for ___ reason.’
“It’s great to be able to be transparent about these things [at Life Without Barriers] and to not feel like I must hide what’s going on.”
Diversity & Inclusion
At Life Without Barriers, we celebrate diversity, and we practice inclusion. We believe in the strength of a diverse workforce where the perspectives and life experiences of our people help us build strong relationships with the people we support.
BeYourself@LWB
Diversity refers to all the ways in which we differ. This includes culture, ethnicity, faith, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, intersex status, relationship status, and lived experience.
Inclusion occurs when a diversity of people are respected, connected, progressing, and contributing to organisational success. We asked our employees what it really means to be included at Life Without Barriers.
Our recent work
In February 2021, we celebrated our annual D&I Week with the theme ‘I Belong’. We explored what it means to belong through a series of virtual events. We also invited employees to share their diversity information and workplace inclusion experiences with us through our first D&I Survey.
In January 2021, we released an Inclusive Language Guide to promote the use of inclusive language across Life Without Barriers. We want the way we communicate with each other, and as an organisation, to be respectful and inclusive.
The 2022-2025 Access Inclusion and Employment Plan outlines our commitments to improving access and creating employment without barriers for people with disability. Central to our plan is for 15% of our workforce to identify as having disability in the next three years.
Life Without Barriers has a strong history that defines us and gives us focus and determination for the future. Our purpose is to partner with people to change lives for the better. It is reflected in our values, portrayed in our vision, intertwined within our culture and is at the forefront of everything we do.
We are driven and determined, creating an environment where anything is possible. Together we are formidable, we gain strength from one another, obtain wisdom from our diversity and are united in our pursuit of creating something unique with the people we support. We are passionate and promote an innovative mindset, we think outside the box and strive to make a difference – we get fired up by our purpose, and we promote a single focus: people we support are first – always.
Our Values
Relationships: Relationships come first. It’s more than just working together, it’s understanding one another, making lasting connections and building trust. Our relationships are strong and enduring and have the power to impact real change.
Courage: We have the courage to challenge the status quo and the resolve to do something about it. We are a collective who encourage people we support to lead the change they want in their lives.
Imagination: We know the importance of imagination to see what is possible, what works. We are always open to new ways of doing things – And we do so openly and willingly.
Responsiveness: We respond appropriately and promptly to individual, and community needs, and we appreciate the importance of agility and partnering to find solutions.
Respect: We are respectful of people’s rights, the viewpoints of others and try to see the world from a diverse and inclusive perspective.
“With imagination, respect, courage and responsiveness as our compass in all relationships, we never forget the value of trust placed in us to provide reliable supports that exceed expectations. Our values are our true compass and define how we work.”
– Claire Robbs, Chief Executive
Ok, Where Do I Sign Up?
Whether you’re a corporate star or your heart is in the frontline, we want to hear from you! For a full list of our current vacancies, please search through our current opportunities.
Note: To be considered for and appointed to a position at Life Without Barriers, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or hold a valid medical exemption certificate. You will be required to provide evidence of your vaccination status during the recruitment process.
For any people with disability that require adjustments, please contact:
At Life Without Barriers, our LGBTQIA+ inclusion journey came from humble beginnings as one of the first organisations to offer same-gender couples the opportunity to become foster carers. We recognise and respect all the ways relationships and families are found and formed and continue to actively seek people to join our growing network of LGBTQIA+ carers.
CREATING AN LGBTQIA+ INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE
Life Without Barriers welcomes all those of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics to join our organisation and supports all LGBTQIA+ employees to bring their whole selves to work.
The number of employees sharing with us that they identify as LGBTQIA+ increased from 6% in 2018 (Employee Engagement Survey), to 15.5% in 2021 (Diversity & Inclusion Survey).
AUSTRALIAN WORKPLACE EQUALITY INDEX (AWEI)
Life Without Barriers has participated in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) for the past four years. Our score has increased each year from 18/200 in 2018, 54/200 in 2019, 74/200 in 2020, to 102/200 in 2021. This year we achieved Bronze Employer Recognition for the first time.
“The achievement of Bronze Employer Recognition has been four years in the making. It’s inspiring to be one of 186 Australian organisations participating in the AWEI and working toward LGBTQIA+ workplace inclusion. It’s a testament to the power of business in influencing not only organisational culture but broader community attitudes.”
– Ashleigh Sternes, Diversity and Inclusion Lead
PRIDE WITHOUT BARRIERS
In February 2021, we launched our second employee network, Pride Without Barriers. Pride Without Barriers serves as a network and resource for LGBTQIA+ employees and their allies.
Accessibility, Inclusion and Employment Plan
Life Without Barriers is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace to enable people with disability to participate fully in all aspects of employment.
DISABILITY ABILITY WELLNESS NETWORK (DAWN)
Our Disability Ability Wellness Network (DAWN) serves as a network and resource for employees with disability and their allies.
“Seeing DAWN grow as a space where employees with disability and their allies come together has been fantastic to see. Facilitating our ‘You Can’t Ask That’ style event for International Day of People with Disability last year gave us the opportunity to tell our stories and educate others on how to better support employees with a disability.”
– Emily Reaper, Senior Project Officer and DAWN Committee Chair
DISABILITY CONFIDENT RECRUITER
Life Without Barriers was first awarded Disability Confident Recruiter (DCR) status by the Australian Network on Disability(AND) in 2019. We reaffirmed our commitment to providing a barrier-free and inclusive recruitment process for people with disability through the renewal of our DCR status in 2021.
MEASURING OUR PROGRESS
Life Without Barriers is an active participant in the Australian Network on Disability’s Access and Inclusion Index. It helps us monitor our progress and continuously improve.
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCLUSION THROUGH EMPLOYMENT
Every member of our Life Without Barriers team is committed to employing more people living with disability. Between June 2020 and June 2021, Life Without Barriers welcomed 100 skilled and talented new employees with disability who shared this information with us during the recruitment and onboarding process. The number of employees with disability sharing this information through anonymous surveys increased from 9% in 2018 (Employee Engagement Survey) to 14% in 2021 (D&I Survey).
Life Without Barriers continues to work toward an inclusive and accessible workplace for people with disability through our Accessibility Inclusion and Employment Plan (AIEP) 2019-2022.
WHY CREATE AN ACCESSIBILITY INCLUSION AND EMPLOYMENT PLAN?
Everyone deserves the chance to gain meaningful employment and enjoy the personal, social, and financial benefits. While 1 in 6 people in Australia live with disability, those of working age are twice as likely as those without disability to be unemployed.
As members of our community, with skills and talents to contribute, people living with disability have a right to the same employment opportunities as everyone else. By removing employment barriers, more people with disability will be employed, and organisations will benefit from building more diverse workforces.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
Life Without Barriers is currently implementing its third Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), a Stretch RAP.
Our Stretch RAP guides and direct our commitment and work in supporting reconciliation from January 2016 through to June 2019.
In developing our Stretch RAP, we had one clear objective in mind: to increase opportunity and improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities.
Actions have been identified that support our Reconciliation vision to:
ensure the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, carers and people we support, inform our work
build the cultural competency of all staff and carers
increase recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners and Custodians
create opportunities for staff, carers and clients to participate in significant events such as National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week
improve employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the development and implementation of a workforce strategy that includes increased professional development and assists in growing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander economic participation.
At Life Without Barriers, we believe that reconciliation must live in the hearts and minds of all Australians. As a nation, we need to work together to close the gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the rest of the population by improving cultural, spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing. But reconciliation is more than a belief for us – it is embedded in all of our actions and activities.
There are currently no jobs available
Unfortunately there are currently no positions available at Life Without Barriers, please check back soon.
