By BEN CAMERON
OPEN your mind and think outside the square when it comes to the possibility of employing people with a disability.
That was a key message at the latest Casey Cardinia Business Breakfast on Wednesday 17 September at Cranbourne Golf Club.
In her opening address, South East Local Learning and Employment Network Partnership Broker Jennifer Ebdon urged Casey and Cardinia businesses to create an inclusive workforce which reflected its diverse communities.
“Go back to work and commence the conversation about employing people with a disability,” she said.
“We’re asking you to be open-minded about employment for people with disabilities.
“Attitudes and assumptions about what people with a disability can and cannot do can create a significant barrier to employment.
“Research indicates that employees with a disability are reliable, take fewer days off, take less sick leave and have a higher retention rate than other workers.”
Mrs Ebdon said only 50 per cent of the 2.1 million Australians of working age with a disability were likely to be employed.
The breakfast also featured a keynote speech from successful entrepreneurs Emma Welsh and Tom Griffith – the people behind smoothie business Emma and Tom’s – who shared the secrets behind their business success and the thinking behind their brand philosophy, Look After Yourself.
“You need to take a leap of faith,” Tom urged potential businesspeople keen to take the plunge.
“Things will always go wrong. But there’s always a solution, it’s all about will. You get out what you put in.”
The pair provided a fascinating financial insight into the day-to-day battles of creating a business, from spending $20,000 on passionfruit to losing $150,000 after buying square bottles which were tricky to label.
“You never learn anything when things go well,” Tom said.
“We made so many mistakes, but we kept at it. I wasn’t scared (by failure), I was excited.”
The next breakfast is set for Wednesday 19 November at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.
