Paralympic Workplace Diversity Program

Australia’s Paralympians can join your

organisation on its diversity journey.

About the Australian Paralympic Committee

The Australian ParalympicCommittee (APC) believeseveryone has the right to playsport and achieve theirpotential. We help Australianswith disabilities participate insport and compete at theParalympic Games throughpartnerships withgovernments, business,sporting bodies and thecommunity. We know participation in sportprovides positive social andphysical benefits to peoplewith disabilities, and plays animportant role in changing

community perceptions ofpeople with disabilities. At the heart of what we do isour athletes, who strive tocompete at an elite level,upholding the ideals of theParalympic movement. Weare responsible for preparingthe Australian ParalympicSummer and Winter Teams forthe Paralympic Games, whichwe have done successfullysince 1990. At the London2012 Paralympic Games,Australia was placed fifth onthe gold medal tally with 32gold, 23 silver and 30 bronze

medals out of 164 countries.Our programs are diverse andfar-reaching. From identifyingtalented athletes across thecountry through ourParticipation and Pathwaysprograms, to teaching morethan 322,000 school childrenthe importance of diversityand inclusion of people withdisabilities through theParalympic EducationProgram, the activities underthe APC’s remit have thepower to change people’slives in incredible ways.

Workplace Diversity

Another way the APC furthersdiversity and inclusion ofpeople with disabilities withinAustralia is through workingwith 360HR to deliver theParalympic WorkplaceDiversity Program (PWDP). Thisprogram providesemployment placement forour Paralympic athletes withorganisations that valuediversity and want to supportour Paralympians withemployment opportunities.

Paralympic athletes arerecognised within thecommunity as high achievingrole models whosecommitment to excellenceextends beyond the sportingfield. These transferable skillscan help provide thesuccessful edge for employers.

Through their roles as DiversityAmbassadors, our Paralympicathletes can help to changeperceptions, break downbarriers and shift stereotypes

that might exist. This will pavethe way for other people witha disability to join yourorganisation.

Australian statistics indicatemany organisations arestruggling to successfullymanage diversity andworkforce participation for keydiversity groups could bemuch higher (e.g. people witha disability and IndigenousAustralians).1

Effective management ofworkplace diversity is linked toimprovements inorganisational performance,effectiveness, profitability andrevenue generation. People with a disability bring arange of skills, abilities andqualifications to theworkplace and the PWDPprovides businesses withaccess to a group of highlymotivated, talented,committed and dedicatedindividuals who have adisability.

The PWDP is available to allAustralian organisations andprogram objectives are to: • Increase the numbers of

people with disability withinthe workplace;

• Promote diversity andinclusion within theworkplace through theathlete’s role as a DiversityAmbassador;

• Provide a positiveexperience for thoseemploying a person with adisability for the first time;

• Support our AustralianParalympic athletes in theirsearch for meaningfulcareers and employmentopportunities which providea flexible work environment.

1 http://www.dca.org.au/why-diversity/business-case-for-diversity.html#sthash.8NyFIijY.dpuf

Paralympic Workplace Diversity Program

ProjectManagement

The PWDP is delivered by 360HRon behalf of the AustralianParalympic Committee. 360HRis a boutique recruitment andhuman resources consultingorganisation with a long historyof support and fundraising forthe Australian ParalympicCommittee.

360HR works with employersand athletes to identify the bestperson for the available role.These may be specificvacancies or generalemployment opportunities.

The PWDP provides anopportunity for organisations toemploy Australia’s eliteParalympic athletes. 360HRworks with Paralympic athletesto interview and screen themto determine their skills,experience and areas ofinterest.

Throughout the engagementprocess, employers areprovided with a number ofprofiles of athletes seeking workplacement. This enables theemployer to review the skillsand experiences of candidatesand gain a greaterunderstanding of the valuethat employing a Paralympicathlete can bring to theirorganisation.

Employment opportunities arealso extended to retiredParalympians. This increases thetalent pool available foremployers and providessupport to our retired athletes intheir life after sport. Theseathletes can draw on theirexperience, skills and attributesas a former elite athlete whichtook them to their sportingpinnacle.

By employing a Paralympicathlete through the ParalympicWorkplace Diversity Programemployers will be recognisedas a “Paralympic EmploymentProvider”. As a ParalympicEmployment Provider, yourorganisation can engage asmany athletes as available andsuitable for employment(subject to availability).

How does the Programwork for Employers?

Key principles of theParalympic Workplace

Diversity Program

• Employment contract and remuneration is betweenemployer and employee (athlete).

• Provision of flexible work arrangements will assist currentathletes to maintain their training and competitioncommitments.

• Athletes will benefit from training and developmentopportunities provided either internally or externally.

• Athletes can deliver key diversity messages as part of theemployer’s diversity activities.

Benefits for Employers

The Paralympic WorkplaceDiversity Program presents arange of benefits foremployers, including:• Direct access to a pool of

talented athletecandidates;

• Enhanced staff morale andteamwork;

• Greater managementawareness of workplacepractices and conditions;

• Enhanced corporatereputation and image;

• Increased customer andstaff loyalty;

• Achievement oforganisation diversitytargets with the help of aParalympic DiversityAmbassador;

• Demonstratedcommitment to corporatesocial responsibility;

• Rights to use ParalympicEmployment Providerdesignation.

Involvement in the ParalympicWorkplace Diversity Program isavailable for a period of twoyears and is open to allAustralian organisations acrossboth the public and privatesectors.

Benefits for Paralympic Athletes

Juggling training andcompetition commitments, acareer and a personal life canbe challenging. TheParalympic Workplace DiversityProgram endeavours to helpathletes find this balancethrough securing meaningfulcareer opportunities that allowflexibility for training andcompetition.

Research suggests that athleteswith an integrated lifestyle aremore likely to achieve theirsporting goals, cope better withstress and injury, and havemore confidence in what thefuture will hold after sport.2

The best references come fromour athletes who havebenefited from the ParalympicDiversity Workplace Program:

“Thank you 360HR for your

support and perseverance in

finding me the perfect job to fit

in with my sporting career and

commitments. Supporting

Paralympic athletes to develop

our careers away from sport

enables us to perform at our

sporting best.”

Sarah Rose,

Paralympic Swimmer.

“The Paralympic Workplace

Diversity Program did more

than just land me a job. I was

placed in a rewarding job that

not only provided me with

financial security, but also had

me working in an environment

that supported my

development as a person and

an athlete. The flexibility

provided by my employment

allowed me to continue my

university studies and

successfully juggle my training

commitments as a member of

the Australian Paralympic

Football Team.”

Aidan Bennison,

Paralympic Football Player.

2 http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/athlete_career_and_educationSarah Rose, Paralympic Swimmer

Frequently Asked Questions

Paralympic WorkplaceDiversity Program

What range of skillsand employmenttypes are offered viathe ParalympicWorkplace DiversityProgram?

Our athletes have a widerange of skills, experience andqualifications to offer,including:

• Administration• Event Management• IT• Hospitality• Building and Construction• Engineering• Customer Service• Education• Marketing• Osteopathy• Finance• Human Resources• Law• Sport and Fitness• Accessibility• Diversity

Is there a recruitmentfee payable for eachathlete employed?

There are no recruitment fees.There is a program fee whichprovides employers access tothe services of the program fortwo years.

What flexibility does anathlete require forparticipation in trainingand competition?

This varies with the athlete andthe sport. Some athletes train 2hours a day and compete 4-6weeks a year. Others requiremore flexibility. All athleteswork closely with theiremployer to ensure thatflexibility arrangements canbe planned in advance.

Are ParalympicEmployment Providersrequired to payathletes when they areabsent from work fortraining orcompetition?

These arrangements arenegotiated between theathlete and the employer aspart of their contract ofemployment. Athletes do usetheir usual leave entitlementfor training and competitionpurposes. Some employersalso provide a special leaveentitlement for these purposes.

What is thegeographic spread ofathletes in theProgram?

Athletes can be placedacross Australia.

Paralympic Workplace Diversity Program

Karen Edwards,General Manager,Human Resources

Strategy, Road andTraffic Authority (RTA).

“Matching these talented people to jobs in our organisation wasvery easy. They are highly motivated individuals and greatambassadors, not only for the Paralympic Workplace DiversityProgram but for our organisation. The program will continue to beof mutual benefit to the RTA, our employees, our customers andthe athletes alike. It makes good business sense to havecommitted, talented and loyal role models in our workforces andreflect the community that we serve”.

To register your interest in theprogram, please contact:

Di Pass

Program Manager02 9819 6324, 0419 908 848dispass@360hr.com.au

Myreen Aronowitz

Program Coordinator02 9819 6324, 0434 408 200myreen@360hr.com.au

“360HR and the Paralympic Workplace Diversity Programhelped me find a great employer – ANZ. They’re supportiveof my training needs and offer flexible working hours. 360HRadvised me on how to prepare for the interview, which Inailed and I was offered the job!”Shane Brand, Wheelchair Rugby

“It’s always difficult to find suitable employment as anathlete. Through the Paralympic Workplace DiversityProgram I found a great role with the Department ofEducation and Early Childhood Development as a diversityambassador/administration officer within the Policy andEmployee Relations branch. The Department has beenreally supportive of my training and competitionrequirements and have offered me a great opportunity todevelop my skill sets in a professional manner.Michael Dobbie, Wheelchair Tennis

Shane Brand, Wheelchair Rugby

Michael Dobbie, Wheelchair Tennis