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Recognition for inclusiveness, equity in employment

September 20, 2004

employaward.jpgThe University of New England’s commitment to inclusiveness and equity in employment has been recognised within the wider New England community.

UNE has received a certificate from the Prime Minister’s Office acknowledging the University’s nomination, by a community organization, for a Prime Minister’s 2003 Employer of the Year Award.

The nomination, from the Armidale-based Network Employment Centre, was for UNE’s “strong commitment to employing people with disabilities”.

Mr Scott Sears, Coordinator of the Network Employment Centre, praised what he called “the culture of acceptance” at UNE. “The University is not only happy to place our clients,” he said, “but makes it easy for us to provide them with ongoing support.” The Network Employment Centre, which finds employment for people with intellectual disabilities, has provided UNE with a number of employees over the past 15 years. “By now, some of them have worked at UNE for quite a few years,” Mr Sears said. “This indicates that they enjoy their jobs and the work environment.”

The Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Ingrid Moses, said the nomination demonstrated the University’s commitment to both equity in employment and engagement with the wider community. “In striving towards a culture of openness at UNE, we aim to create a workplace that encourages and nurtures diversity,” she said. “This includes encouraging employment and career development opportunities for people from groups that have traditionally been disadvantaged in their access to (and participation in) employment.”

UNE’s high reputation for its services to students with disabilities was highlighted last year by the success of a submission to locate the Commonwealth-funded Disability Coordination Officer (DCO) Program for northern NSW at the University. The DCO provides information, coordination and referral services for people with disabilities interested in or enrolled in post-school education and training, including those making the transition to employment.

The Equity Manager at UNE, Bronwyn Pearson, said staff diversity helped to create an environment of awareness and acceptance on a campus with a diverse student population (including a higher-than-average proportion of students with disabilities). “Engagement with the wider community, such as that recognised in our nomination for a Prime Minister’s Award, is a very important part of maintaining and enhancing staff diversity,” she said. “Another example of the significance and success of such engagement is our Indigenous Employment Strategy, which was developed (and is being implemented) in collaboration with the local Indigenous community.”

Media contact: Bronwyn Pearson, Equity Manager, UNE (02) 6773 2961 or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE (02) 6773 3049.
The photograph, showing (from left) Professor Ingrid Moses, Bronwyn Pearson (holding the certificate from the Prime Minister’s Office) and Scott Sears, is available at:
http://smithserver.une.edu.au/photography/media/employaward.jpg

Posted by Jim Scanlan at September 20, 2004 04:57 PM