A City for Everyone: Inclusive Brisbane Plan 2019-2029 - Small start-ups to large enterprises

Council is committed to making Brisbane Australia’s most small business-friendly city and is continuing to deliver programs that support small businesses. In developing this plan, we also commit to taking action to encourage business owners to improve diversity in the workplace and adopt practices that make businesses more welcoming to everyone.

Inclusion means employment opportunities and great service for all, from people with temporary injuries to those from non-English speaking backgrounds and older residents.

Council understands that more opportunities must exist for everyone to secure meaningful work. Older residents are working later in life, while people with disability are nearly twice as likely to be unemployed and half as likely to have a full-time job, compared to Australians without disability¹. People who have been in Australia for less than five years and are from a non-English speaking background may also require additional supportive pathways. Businesses can benefit by increasing their employment rates within these groups as it broadens the pool of talent, ideas and perspectives in the workforce.

Council is working to reduce barriers into the workforce for these groups, by providing more information and education about Australian workplaces and the Brisbane employment sector. This will help people be more confident and prepared when securing employment, while also supporting business owners with tailored advice and guidance.

Council supports social enterprises that employ people who have previously been out of work and provide additional support to help meet their needs. Council will extend its policy of social procurement and seek practical ways to support social enterprises to employ more people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

"I run a small business and want to have more diversity amongst my staff, but I need a hand in understanding what to do.’’

- Michael, Ashgrove

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Disability, Ageingand Carers, Australia, Cat. No. 4430.0.10.001,ABS, Canberra, 2016.