Presentations

View All Presentations

The State of Disability Discrimination in Australia Today

The right to work is a fundamental right, essential for realising other human rights, and forms an inseparable and inherent part of human dignity. Meaningful work and employment are key to a person’s economic security, physical and mental health, sense of identity and role within the community. However, Australia has one of the lowest employment rates for people with disability in the OECD. We have seen persistently low labour force participation rates of people with disability over three decades. This economic exclusion correlates with the high rates of poverty and social isolation experienced by people with disability. This situation is underpinned by ableism. Ableism, like racism and sexism permeates law, policy and practice and societal attitudes. This presentation will examine the role of ableism and the need for a human rights approach to address the inherent inequality and discrimination that keeps people with disability from participating in employment and the community.

Rosemary Kayess will provide us with a pre-recorded presentation covering the above topics.

Presenters

Rosemary Kayess

Rosemary Kayess

Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission

Rosemary Kayess’ five-year term as Disability Discrimination Commissioner began on Monday 29 January 2024.

Ms Kayess holds a Bachelor of Social Science, Bachelor of Laws and an Honorary Doctorate in Law. Previous to her appointment as Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Kayess held senior academic roles with the Faculty of Law and Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and is a Visiting Professor, Centre for Disability, Law and Policy, University of Galway.

Ms Kayess was one of the drafters of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). She is serving her second term on the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as Vice-Chair. She was awarded the Human Rights Medal in 2019 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights.

Ms Kayess is a current and former member of a number of disability focused councils and committees. Current memberships include the NDIA Independent Advisory Council and the Australian Discrimination Law Experts Group. Former memberships include the Strategic Engagement Reference Group for the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.