SKILLS FOR ALL

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (15:11): I have a supplementary question. Is the minister equally concerned about the stigma that exists in the workplace which may, in fact, lead to people not disclosing that they have a disability, and what is the government doing to address this problem?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:12): In fact, I was discussing the issue of stigmatisation with various service providers only a few weeks ago, particularly in relation to getting people with disabilities into open employment, which I think we can all agree is a desirable outcome. The government is working very closely with a number of organisations in the community to encourage businesses in particular to look at employing people with a disability. The experience that has been conveyed to me is that, once that personal connection has been made with a person with a disability; once the employer and their workmates find out that that person can function just as well as anyone else in the workplace, that sort of stigmatisation is broken down. As in many other situations, that personal contact is so very important.