Disability Ambassador Isabella Choate was Master of Ceremonies for a special event hosted by the City of Melville to mark International Day of People with Disability 2025 on Wednesday, 3 December.
The Let’s Get to Work event at Shirley Strickland Sport and Community Pavillion on Wednesday, 26 November attracted more than 130 people for a panel discussion on creating job opportunities for people with disabilities.
It was supported through a $1,000 grant from the WA Government and coincided with the official launch of the City’s Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2024 – 2029.
The Plan is a blueprint for helping ensure those who live with a disability and those who share their lives are supported to participate in the community equally, fairly and in ways they choose.
A major thrust is ‘getting to work’ connecting businesses looking for employees with job seekers living with a disability.
Representatives from the disability community, local businesses, schools and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA were part of the Let’s Get to Work event.
City of Melville Mayor Katy Mair said the City was committed to providing inclusive community services, events, places and facilities and the Let’s Get to Work event was an example of bringing the community together to build stronger communities.
Research shows people living with a disability experience significant disadvantage,” Mayor Mair said.
They have much lower participation in the workforce, lower income and higher rates of poverty and this has a real flow-on effect to all aspects of their lives; housing, health, education and more.
The focus of Wednesday’s event was to hear the views of our community on how we might change this and how best to provide support for business owners looking for staff and people living with a disability looking for work.
We’re proud of the progress that we’ve made through our Disability Access and Inclusion Plan and we want to continue to build a City where everyone belongs.
Image: International Day of People with Disability 2025 Ambassador Isabella Choate with some of the panel attendees. They are from left to right, Ayden Falzon mower operator with genU Land and Property Care, Cassandra Hughes CEO Down Syndrome WA, Sian King Administrative Assistant Curtin University, Toby Anscombe founder Awareness Apparel Australia, Dylan King General Manager The Boxman and Keran Davies Principal Leeming Senior High School Education Support Centre.