While there’s more awareness and support for those in our communities living with disability, there’s still work to be done – something International Day of People With a Disability aims to do!
As our understanding of disability grows, we know that it’s not just about what we can ‘see’, and we need to make sure we all act in positive, supportive ways to help everyone in our workplaces and classrooms to feel included and valued.
What is the International Day of People With a Disability?
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is held on the 3rd of December each year.
The United Nations started IDPwD to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with all kinds of disabilities; physical, neurological and cognitive.
The Australian Government has supported IDPwD since 1996 and provides funds to promote and raise awareness of the day and support activities across Australia, including in our schools and workplaces.
The day also celebrates the contributions and achievements of people with disability and promotes inclusion through sponsorships and IDPwD ambassadors.
Each year the UN announces a theme that focuses on how society can “strive for inclusivity by removing physical, technological and attitudinal barriers for people with disability.”
The theme for IDPwD 2022 is:
‘Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world.’
What is Disability Prevalence?
Around 1 in 6 people across Australia (about 4.4 million) live with a disability. This is also known as ‘disability prevalence’. Disability prevalence is the proportion of the population living with a disability at a given time.
Another 22% (about 5.5 million) of Australians have a long-term health condition but no disability, and the remaining 60% (about 14.8 million) have no disability or long-term health condition, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
5 Careers to Explore in Disability Services
People from all backgrounds and walks of life work across the disability sectors, supporting each other and those in their community to lead full, proactive lives no matter what. From young children to teens, adults to older groups.
Here’s a brief look at some of the great roles you could explore in this rewarding sector:
- Community Services Worker: Community service workers support different individuals to become more independent. They may work with individuals with various physical or mental disabilities or support people who act as carers for other family members. They assist with everyday activities, including personal care, feeding, chores and cleaning, helping with mobility, attending appointments/activities and shopping. Community service workers help to tackle problems faced by their community, ensuring everyone has access to nurturing environments to grow and connect.
- NDIS Support Worker: NDIS Support workers help people living with a disability to lead independent lives. They provide support with daily living skills such as shopping, cooking, travel, and getting to work or training. They can also help with managing medications and prescriptions and attending medical appointments. Where necessary, they can help individuals liaise with their workplaces to ensure they are supported, and the right adjustments are made so the individual can continue to do their role without their disability becoming a barrier to accessing fulfilling work.
- Physiotherapist: Physiotherapists diagnose, manage and develop recovery plans for a broad range of conditions with the bones, muscles, cardiovascular system, nerves and other parts and systems of the body. They can help people to manage chronic diseases, give lifestyle advice, and prescribe exercises and aids to help people manage their conditions better. They might work with people who experience short-term disability due to an accident or help with ongoing recovery and management for those with conditions that may worsen with time.
- Early Childhood Intervention Disability Worker: Early Childhood Intervention Workers (ECIWs) support families with young children aged 0-6 to get the right support and medical aid they need so their child can live a fulfilling life. They can assist families in completing an Access Request to the NDIS where required and provide short-term best practice and evidence-based early intervention support to children with developmental delay. They can also help families access other communities for support and ongoing care.
- Occupational Therapist: Occupational therapists focus on promoting health and well-being by enabling people to participate in the everyday occupations, such as self-care, including showering, dressing, and preparing food; productive activities, such as education, work, and volunteering; and social activities, such as attending meet-ups, participating in hobbies, and meeting friends. Occupational therapists play a vital role in enabling people experiencing disabilities to identify and implement methods that support their participation in different occupations.
Explore More With Our Industry Partners
There are so many great employers to explore in this sector, and we are proud to partner with a few of them!
We recently welcomed Life Without Barriers to the Explore Careers family, and if you’re interested in a career in this sector, there is no one better to start exploring with.
To learn more about healthcare, social assistance and disability services, don’t forget to check out our full Industry Profile and employer profiles!
