Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Eastern Metropolitan Region

Dr BACH (Eastern Metropolitan) (1737)

Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September 2021:

Will the Minister for Public Transport make work experience opportunities available for Victorians with a disability, at Metro Trains?

I recently met with staff from Burke and Beyond, which does wonderful work in my electorate supporting people with a disability. A key challenge at the moment is securing work experience opportunities, as Burke and Beyond seeks to help those it supports to gain employment.

I’m advised that many of those who are supported by Burke and Beyond love trains, and would be thrilled to have access to work experience opportunities at Metro. For my part, I think this would be an excellent step—for the government to model good practice, noting that some prejudice against Victorians with disability persists. This is, nonetheless, directly contrary to all the evidence that those with a disability, with a right support, make a fantastic contribution in the employment market.