PwC Australia and disability inclusion consulting organisation Get Skilled Access (GSA) announced they have formed a strategic alliance.
The alliance aims to bring disability inclusion and accessibility to the forefront to create equitable participation opportunities across all parts of society.
Founded in 2016 by Dylan Alcott, Paralympian and 2022 Australian of the Year, GSA works across the private and public sectors, offering tailored consulting services that help organisations and industries achieve sustainable change in the area of disability inclusion and accessibility.
PwC Australia and GSA have identified significant opportunities by coming together to expand services’ reach, breadth and impact.
PwC Australia CEO Tom Seymour said, “In line with our Belonging Strategy, PwC is committed to reimagining accessible employment, and helping build accessible and inclusive workplaces across Australia.
We know that engaging people with disability in meaningful employment brings better outcomes for business and society more broadly, and we advocate this through the Australian Human Rights Commission’s IncludeAbility initiative.
“Our employee network is already active in this space, with network members using their lived experience of disability to inform the advice they provide to our clients.
“We’ve built the foundation, and our alliance with GSA is the strategic extension that brings expertise in the disability space to deliver these outcomes. We’re proud to be partnering with Dylan and GSA on this journey.”
GSA founder Dylan Alcott welcomed the collaboration and said organisations need to take the lead in creating inclusive and accessible workplaces, services, and products to help supercharge systemic societal change.
“We see a real opportunity for PwC and GSA to achieve large-scale systemic and impactful change towards a disability-inclusive and accessible society,” Mr Alcott said.
“We work with corporates and governments every day to increase their level of commitment by integrating accessibility, inclusive policies and actions into their strategies.
“People with disability make up nearly 20% of our population, and it can happen to anyone, at any stage. Investing in inclusive leadership and building more diverse teams makes good business sense.
“We want to role model what leading practice disability inclusion looks like and what it delivers, doing this by putting lived experience at the forefront, providing opportunities and showcasing the social and economic value that being inclusive brings.”
PwC Australia and GSA acknowledge and support the achievement of Australia’s Disability Strategy at the federal and state government level.
Through the strength and reach of both firms, having consultants with disability and being leaders in the disability space, the alliance will boost opportunities to make systemic change.
“By making activity and participation easier through technology, support, and relationships, as well as services, policies, and shifting attitudes and behaviour, we can increase inclusion and opportunity for our community of Australians,” Mr Dylan Alcott added.
As part of the alliance, GSA’s team of 25 people will be working in PwC Australia’s Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane offices from 1 May 2023.
