Change the Story will visit selected cinemas across the country over the next three months to celebrate ability and show how sustainable, meaningful employment can change lives.
CoAct, a leading provider of employment services for job seekers with disability, along with their Service Partners, will be running an online film festival and free cinema events as part of a new nationwide storytelling project, Change the Story.
Through seven short films, the project follows people across Australia who are changing the story around disability employment. It’s a look into what navigating the world of work means through the eyes of people with disability, employers and frontline workers. The project aims to reach people with disability who might want to know more about employment possibilities, and employers looking at embracing a diverse workforce.
CoAct CEO, Matt Little, says the seven films are aimed at breaking down the stereotypes of what ability means and show the flood of positive flow-on effects that come with disability employment. “When we change the story as a society to focus on ability, choose inclusion and celebrate diversity, we open a world of opportunity, not just in people’s lives but in the whole community”, he said.
Changing the story around disability employment: 2.2 million Australians are of working-age living with disability yet are significantly under-represented in the workforce. Add to that, the employment rate for people with disability is increasing, and is almost half compared to those without disability.
For people with profound or severe disability aged 15-64, the unemployment rate increased from 10.3 percent in 2012 to 13.7 percent in 2015, and labour force participation dropped from 31.3 percent to 25 percent.[1]
CoAct and its Service Partners are working to reverse this trend by engaging local communities in the Change the Story project. The goal is to help shift thinking of individuals, employers and communities, so that embracing differing levels of ability in the workplace becomes the norm, not the exception.
About the event: Thanks to CoAct and their Service Partners, Change the Story will be visiting selected local cinemas where guests will enjoy a free screening of a new-release feature film and watch a selection of the Change the Story short films. Expert local employment consultants will also be on hand to provide advice and information on Disability Employment Services.
Tickets to each event are strictly limited, so to find an event near you and reserve your seat visit: coact.org.au/changethestory
The short films are also available to watch online at: coact.org.au/changethestory.
Story Source: CoAct Employment
Ryan Fritz
Ryan Fritz started The Advocate in 2014 to provide not-for-profits and charities another media platform to tell their worthwhile hard news stories and opinion pieces effortlessly. In 2020, Ryan formed a team of volunteer journalists to help spread even more high-quality stories from the third sector. He also has over 10 years experience as a media and communications professional for not-for-profits and charities and currently works at Redkite, a childhood cancer charity.
