Expanding Horizons: Overcoming Barriers for Employment

Published on 11 August 2023

Expanding Horizons was an exciting two-year initiative to help the Monash business community build its confidence in employing and retaining employees with disability.

Funded by the Department of Social Services and delivered in partnership with Holmesglen Institute, Expanding Horizons included a wide offering of information sessions and networking events for businesses and free short courses for employers, jobseekers and support individuals.

April 2025: The project is now complete. We are proud to share the initiative has connected more than 100 participants, employers and stakeholders across 9 local government areas, building greater inclusivity in workplaces and the wider community.

Read about Phil's Expanding Horizons journey 

We would like to thank everyone who worked with the project team to deliver this success.

Project background

With 1 in 6 people in Australia estimated to have a disability, Expanding Horizons provides businesses with support to:

• Build confidence in employing candidates with disability
• Become diversity leaders in the workplace
• Recruit candidates from a wider talent pool
• Build an inclusive workforce

• Smooth recruitment pathways for job seekers with disability.

Benefits to being an inclusive business

Some of the recognised benefits to business when employing a candidate with disability are:

• Widening the talent pool to draw from
• Reducing worker turnover
• Lowering rates of absenteeism
• Improving productivity levels
• Building workplace cohesion

• Enriching workplace culture

Research shows that employing candidates with disability makes for good business, social and economic sense. Everyone benefits from an inclusive and diverse workforce – fellow workers, the business, customers and the community as a whole.

More information, support and resources: Employing and retaining employees with disability