Disability

We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment for all staff. As part of this commitment, the University seeks to ensure equal opportunity for staff with disability and enables them to perform the genuine and reasonable requirements of their role by making appropriate and reasonable adjustments to the staff member’s workplace.

What is disability?

Disability is an aspect of human diversity. Disability may be permanent, temporary or fluctuating, and may have a minimal or substantial impact on a person's life. Disability does not just refer to a person's health or wellbeing. It involves the interaction between the unique features and functions of a person's body and mind and the environment and socio-political context in which they live.

Disability may include:

physical impairments
medical conditions
intellectual disabilities
learning disabilities
mental health conditions
neurological conditions
vision impairments
hearing impairments
mobility impairments

How to seek workplace adjustments?

Monash supports staff with disability to work safely and productively and to be treated fairly at work in line with Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act (2010) and the Federal Disability Discrimination Act (1992). This includes making reasonable workplace adjustments when required.

Workplace adjustments refer to the changes made to almost any aspect of work to ensure that staff with disability have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential as employees. Adjustments may include the provision of support services, accessible facilities, assistive technologies and software and/or the application of flexible work practices so as to facilitate the performance of work by an employee with a disability.

Many staff with disabilities do not require any adjustments in the workplace to carry out the genuine and reasonable requirements of their job and some may only need minor changes at minimal costs.

Staff with disability requesting reasonable workplace adjustments should discuss this with their supervisor or HR Business Partner or refer to:

Where to go for support?

For support and assistance speak to your supervisor or HR Business Partner.

Free, confidential counselling is available for you and your family through the Employee Assistance Program.

For resources to support students with disability and to access the inclusive teaching toolkit please visit the Disability Support Intranet.

What external assistance can you access?

The Employment Assistance Fund is a Federal Government initiative which provides employers with financial help for work-related equipment, modifications and services to appropriate adjust the workplace for staff with disability

Funding may be available for:

Workplace modifications and equipment
Assistive software and technology
Communication equipment
Auslan interpreting services for job interviews and work-related activities
Disability awareness training for existing staff.

An application for funding can be completed with the support of your supervisor and/or HR Business Partner.

For students

Students seeking disability support services can visit the Disability Support website.

Our Membership

We are a bronze member of The Australian Network on Disability(AND). AND is a national, membership based, for-purpose organisation that supports organisations to advance the inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of business.