International Day of People with Disability: Push for APS to improve employment goals

The 22-year-old, who lives with Asperger's syndrome and severe anxiety, is a valued member of the team, starting off at Parliament House two years ago wrapping Christmas presents at the gift shop and moving into all kinds of behind-the-scenes jobs, such as stamping visitor passes and helping to do online bookings for tours.

And his progress is being lauded on Thursday on the International Day of People with Disability.

Cris Kennedy, now director, visitor experience at the Department of Parliamentary Services, was working at the National Film and Sound Archives when he first met Daniel, who had come in for work experience, a placement organised by Daniel's disability employment service, Job Centre Australia.

Mr Kennedy later moved to Parliament House, Daniel's placement at the archives ended, but their paths crossed again, in December 2018, when a position was going in the Parliament House gift shop wrapping presents and Mr Kennedy thought Daniel would be perfect for it.

"He just came in on a casual contract and now nearly two years later, Daniel's not only still here, but through a competitive process, like every other public servant, Daniel has won a job in our team and I'm so proud of him. It's a real achievement."

Daniel, a former student at St Francis Xavier College, says he feels "very, very fortunate" to work at Parliament House.

"It's been a relief because I didn't have to worry anymore about not having a job," he said. "It's keeps me out of trouble. Most of the team is out there [with the public] and I stay in the office and don't have any spooky interactions with strangers."

He enjoys working at the heart of democracy. "There's a certain prestige with telling people I work here."

On Thursday, Daniel was asked to meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in his office to discuss his success.

He took meeting the PM in his stride.

"I've been watching Greta Thunberg do all these interviews with world leaders, so I thought, 'I can do it too'. She has the same condition as I do'," Daniel said.

Stuart Robert, minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, was thrilled to see Daniel so settled into Parliament House.

"I just want more Daniels working here," he said. "We've set a goal, it's very aggressive, that 7 per cent of the APS will be Australians with a disability.

"Now, if I look at my department and agencies, NDI, social services and so on, we're probably the highest. NDI 11 per cent, social services 5 per cent, but even my agencies have got some way to go. So, the more opportunities we can give Australians with disabilities, the better. I think it's actually a really good use of the APS."

Job Centre Australia CEO Deborrah Lambourne said only 53.4 per cent of people with a disability were in paid employment, "a major under-representation".

"Since Daniel got his job at Parliament House two years ago, we've kept working with him, and if there was an opportunity for him to grow further we would be right there alongside him," she said.

Job Centre Australia's general manager of operations Sarah Stratford said Daniel was a success story.

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"It's the government-funded program of the NDIS that has really enabled Daniel to take on work experience and then secure paid employment and be part of a workforce that shows diversity and inclusion at it's best and we need to celebrate this," Mrs Stratford said.

"He's part of an economy, he's part of his local community and Daniel is thriving. It's fantastic."

Daniel has been a National Disability Insurance Scheme participant since 2016 and continues to be assisted by local NDIS partner Feros Care. "I work with six or seven others on the concierge team and feel very well understood and supported," he said.

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