International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is observed each year on December 3 and aims to promote community awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.
In 2024, IDPwD carries the theme of “amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.”
At Vision Australia, our mission is to support people who are blind or have low vision to live the life they choose, and we’re proud that the work we do to achieve that is informed by people who are blind or have low vision at every level of our organisation.
Simone Blumberg, Vision Australia Chief People Officer, said the organisation is committed to making sure that people who are blind or have low vision are always involved in how Vision Australia supports the community now, and into the future.
“At Vision Australia, we have an organisational KPI that 15% of our workforce to be made up of people who are blind or have low vision, and it’s something that we strive to achieve every day,” Simone says.
“That 15% is represented across all levels of our workforce. People who are blind or have low vision can be found in our executive team, as well as leading our regional client services teams, managing our employment services, leading our national contact centre and in many other decision-making roles that help determine how we support and advocate for the blind and low vision community.
“That diversity across our ranks is one of Vision Australia’s biggest assets and is something we will always be committed to.”
With blind and low vision employees embedded across all levels of Vision Australia, individuals are also given the opportunity to influence decisions through the recently established blind and low vision employee working group, while clients are also given a voice through the Client Reference Group (CRG).
“The working group and CRG are two very effective ways we can give our workforce and client base the opportunity to have direct input into matters that impact them. Giving people the opportunity to develop their leadership abilities goes beyond what’s in their job title, it’s about ensuring they have the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways as well as being able to collaborate with and understand the different views of their colleagues and others,” Simone says.
Lived experiences of blindness and low vision also influences Vision Australia’s operations from the Board, including Chair Bill Jolley.
“As someone who is blind, it’s an immense privilege to hold the position of Chair at Vision Australia. More than half of our Board are either blind or have low vision or have immediate family members with lived experience, so there is no decision the Board makes that doesn’t take into account the needs and views of people from within our community,” Bill says.
“There are many positives that come from being on the Board, but one of the things I value the most is the opportunity to see the progression and development of blind and low vision members of the Vision Australia workforce. Whether they remain a part of our organisation or leave to chase their career goals elsewhere, it’s always pleasing to see people who are blind or have low vision pursue those opportunities and to be able to play even the smallest role in giving them the opportunity they need to get started.”