CCIWA Member and Diversity & Inclusion Awards sponsor, the City of Swan, has launched a campaign to help local businesses become more accessible and reach more customers.
The Accessible and Inclusive Business Initiative encourages businesses to conduct a review of their premises to identify any accessibility gaps.
They can do this by completing a self-assessment, engaging a paid consultant or participating in a free program for businesses.
The results of the review will provide business owners with recommended improvements.
After implementing the improvements, businesses are encouraged to promote any changes they made to highlight their accessibility and inclusivity.
Pilot program
The campaign follows a highly successful pilot program involving 10 local businesses.
Almost 20 per cent of Australians live with disability. Meanwhile, our population continues to age, with the number of Australians aged 85 and over to more than triple in the next 40 years.
According to CCIWA’s report, Tapping the Talent Pool of People with Disabilities, WA has made little progress in closing the employment gap faced by people living with disabilities, despite strong evidence that doing so has myriad economic benefits such as increased profits, staff satisfaction and customer loyalty.
The report found discrimination and a lack of knowledge about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities was driving the lack of progress.
The City of Swan said making improvements now means businesses will reap the benefits for years to come.
“The City is committed to delivering a more consistent and coordinated approach to developing and implementing good access,” said City of Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson.
“We want to help our businesses become more accessible and inclusive so that they can bring in new customers and employees.
“Not only is it beneficial for the businesses, but it also creates an inclusive and welcoming environment for the whole community.”
Find out more about CCIWA’s Diversity & Inclusion Awards and how your business can get involved.
