Department of Industrial Relations

2000 by 2000 Traineeships Program

The Department decided to participate in the Government's '2000 by 2000' Traineeships Program as part of its employment equity program for people with a disability. The Department also has a policy to make any adjustments necessary to achieve positive outcomes.

The Department and its EEO Committee liaised with three community-based disability employment services - the Royal Blind Society, Job Match and the Australian Quadriplegic Association - to assess the types of jobs offered by the Department. These services found that there were no positions that could not be done equally well by a qualified person with a disability.

They decided to attract 15 trainees, including people with a disability, to fill establishment positions in three branches. The Department used section 122K in Part 9A of the Anti-Discrimination Act to include a strategy in its EEO management plan and its own temporary vacancy policy to achieve its targets.

This example shows the importance of consulting with specialist providers, people with disabilities and involving all levels of management including the Chief Executive Officer. It also illustrates appropriate use of the general employment equity exemption to conduct an effective program to achieve positive job outcomes.