Sydney arts organisations employing people with disability
Getting a job in the arts has always been highly competitive, but pathways do exist for people with disability and the key is participating in arts projects as often as possible, to gain skills and experience that match the needs of arts organisations.
Digby Webster and Audrey O’Connor are two individuals who have both gathered a variety of experience in the arts, leading to work placements with promising potential. With support from Disability Services Australia, Digby is currently working part time at the Australia Council for the Arts and Audrey is working part time at Sydney Theatre Company with assistance from Jobsupport Inc. With increased incentives for employers who offer jobs to people with disability being rolled out under the Australian Government’s National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy, and more tailored support available to employees, the chances of getting a job in the arts is becoming an option for more people with disability.
Digby Webster is 22 years old and his development as an artist has been cultivated since a young age. Being involved in a number of projects at Accessible Arts, has fostered Digby’s development as a visual artist and performer. Throughout 2007 and 2008, Digby was a participant of the Studio Project and exhibited at AART.BOXX, Accessible Arts national art exhibtion. He is currently a member of the ‘First Flight Crew', performing regularly with Aussie B-Boy Morganics. As a founding member of Ever After Theatre Company and having completed training and intensive development with Australian Theatre for Young People and National Institute of Dramatic Arts, Digby has gained extensive experience. This has been the key to Digby’s part time work placement at the Australia Council for the Arts. Supported by 121 Employment Service, this placement has the potential of leading to a permanent part time job for Digby that will compliment his performance and art making practice.
Suzanne Wiley, Jobsupport Inc and Audrey
O’Connor at Sydney Theatre Company
Audrey O’Connor has practiced performance, acting and writing for many years. In 2007, Audrey played the lead role in Yolk, an international award winning short film. Audrey has been a member of the Merry Makers dance/movement group since the age of seven, and a part of the Special Olymics Dance (Performance) Group since 2005. Audrey’s recent involvement with Accessible Arts and Kino Kabaret saw her contribute to the production of several short films. As an 18 year old, looking for her first ‘day’ job, Audrey’s skills and experience have been a good match for a work placement at Sydney Theatre Company, where she is working part time in a variety of functions across administration, set construction and archives. With the support of Jobsupport Inc, a quality Disability Employment Network service, Audrey’s experience in the arts is being optimized in her work placement, offering more chance of it leading to permanent employment for both employer and employee.
Accessible Arts is presenting a conference in March 2010 and artists with disabilities who sustain successful careers will be presenting at the conference to share their experience of arts, access and excellence. View the Arts Activated National Conference program. Registrations are open until 9 March 2009.
From 1 March 2010, new employment services for people with a disability, injury or health condition will be introduced to better help people prepare for, find and keep a job. They will be known as Disability Employment Services (DES). For more information visit the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website and Centrelink.
To find out how to get involved in events and opportunities at Accessible Arts, subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter or contact info@aarts.net.au.