Retail Ready and Able
(Queensland)
Employing a person living with a disability can be a real advantage to your business. Increased loyalty, boosting your bottom line while increasing employee morale are some of the benefits experienced by businesses.
Retail Ready and Able is an exciting project aimed at empowering and upskilling Queenslanders who face employment barriers because of a physical, mental, or emotional challenge.
This project aims to address stigmas, and shift mindsets when it comes to employing those with varying disabilities.
The ARA has partnered with Employment Services Providers, National and State based advocacy and support organisations, and directly with jobseekers, to provide pre-employment support and training to those with a disability.
Post-placement support is available for both employers and employees.
Case Studies
Zarraffa
Changing the game:
How Zarraffa’s and ARA through its Retail Ready and Able (RRA) program, lead the way in embracing diversity in the hospitality industry.
Known for its cafes and welcoming atmosphere, the loved chain Zarraffa’s is making strides in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace by teaming up with ARA through its Retail Ready and Able (RRA) program. This partnership goes beyond filling roles—it signifies a dedication to demonstrating how employing individuals with disabilities can enhance businesses and provide chances for those confronted with job obstacles regularly. By showcasing how an inclusive mindset brings not diversity, but strength and worth to its workforce, Zarraffa’s sets an example of valuing every individual’s contribution.
The program started with a goal of creating job prospects for individuals with disabilities and debunking prevalent myths in the hospitality industry sector. Zarraffa’s embraced RRA members into roles at their cafes by assigning each person to positions aligned with their abilities and level of comfort. From being baristas to offering support behind the scenes in the kitchen area every role offered an opportunity for participants to move from being without a job, to joining a work environment where their efforts are appreciated.
To promote inclusivity effectively Zarraffa’s took steps by dedicating time and resources to establishing a welcoming environment for all individuals involved in their operations. They engaged with RRA webinars and welcomed RRA trainers into their locations to gain an insight into their day-to-day operations. This partnership enabled RRA to identify and train individuals suited for Zarraffa’s setup while providing their team with the resources to cultivate an inclusive atmosphere.
The story of Zarraffa’s serves as a model for the hospitality sector by inspiring a shift in recruitment strategies to embrace inclusivity for mutual gains across the industry.
Rivers
Building an inclusive workforce:
Rivers and ARA through their Retail Ready and Able (RRA) program, promote diversity in employment opportunities.
The retail industry often prioritizes efficiency over inclusivity in a moving environment like this; however, Rivers is setting a standard by teaming up with the ARA and its Retail Ready and Able (RRA) program to showcase that inclusivity isn’t just a moral decision, but also a savvy business move that can make a positive impact on people’s lives and enhance organizational strength.
Rivers, a prominent retail brand, is redefining what an inclusive workplace can look like through a groundbreaking partnership with Retail Ready and Able (RRA). This collaboration isn’t just about filling job positions; it’s about transforming perspectives within the retail industry. By actively recruiting individuals with disabilities, Rivers is proving that inclusivity not only strengthens a team, but also brings unique value to the business.
The initiative began with a shared vision: to create job opportunities for people with disabilities and challenge the misconceptions that often limit inclusive hiring practices in retail. Rivers welcomed over 13 RRA participants into various roles suited to their skills and comfort levels, from customer-facing sales positions to roles in stock management. This careful placement ensured each person could transition confidently from unemployment into meaningful work, supported by an accommodating and encouraging environment.
Beyond job placement, Rivers is continuously investing in comprehensive training for their managers and staff, aimed at fostering awareness and dispelling stereotypes. This training shifted perspectives within the company, helping team members recognize the strengths that individuals with disabilities bring to the workplace.
Information Session
The Australian Retailers Association’s Retail Ready and Able (QLD) program is designed to provide information, training and new employment opportunities to connect job seekers with retailers located across Queensland.
With the ARA’s connection to over 8,000 retail businesses around Australia, we are using this training program to reach out through our network to open doors to opportunities available for neurodiverse and disability employment. Our mission is to support you on the journey to secure meaningful employment in the retail sector.
Join us in our below upcoming 30-minute webinar to learn more about the potential of a fulfilling retail career and discover the benefits of Retail Ready and Able for individuals with disabilities.
FOR RETAILERS
Find the right fit for your hiring needs
Available now OnDemand
This session covered
• How your business can benefit from choosing an employee with a disability
• Breaking barriers and busting the myths and preconceived misconceptions around what is really required from the employer to employ a jobseeker with a disability
• Available funding and and wage subsidies
Connecting Job seekers with Retailers
Jarryd's journey with APM
Facing the world of work is daunting for anyone when they finish school and look for their first job.
For Jarryd, and thousands of other young Australians every year, this next step in his life was made even more challenging due to his autism.
Find out about more about APM’s services, including hiring people with a disability, workplace modifications, wage subsidies and post placement support.
Disability Employment Services and Resources
Employing people with a disability
There is no real difference in employing a person with a disability to anyone else. People with a disability should be considered in the same way as anyone else applying for a position.
Partner with Employable Me
Employable Me is powered by APM – a global human-services provider.
Employable Me can help you find the right people for your team with tailor-made support from their dedicated team.
Multicap
Multicap is a one-stop-shop for business, disability and employment services. Find out more about partnering with Multicap to find the best solutions for your business.
APM Disability Inclusion Guide
This guide will help you understand the benefits of disability inclusion and also provide a useful toolkit for your workplace.
Employers Guide to employing someone with disability
This guide brings together information on the wide range of Australian Government resources, which are free of charge and available to help you successfully employ people with disability, injury or health condition.
10 Social Benefits of Employing someone with a disability
Not only do employers receive financial benefits and assistance for hiring people with a disability, but they also enjoy harder-to-quantify perks. In this article, Asuria outlines ten such benefits. Could any of them improve your business?
Government Agencies and Services
This project is proudly funded by the Queensland Government through its Workforce Connect Fund.
