Disability inclusion and support

If your work environment needs to be adjusted to help you fulfil your work requirements, talk to your supervisor about what you need.

Supervisors should work with HR staff to make reasonable workplace adjustments. The Ergonomics and Rehabilitation Advisor can also help with workstation set-up and ergonomics.

The Workplace Adjustment Form (PDF, 293.3 KB)can be used by UQ staff in accordance with the Disability Inclusion and Reasonable Adjustments for Staff Procedure. [To type directly into the form and save, you must open the document in the Desktop App. After clicking on the form link, click the button “Open in Desktop App” in the upper right-hand corner of the page.]

JobAccess is an Australian Government service that provides free information and advice about workplace solutions for employers and employees with a disability, including reasonable adjustments, disclosure of disability, disability employment case studies, tools and checklists.

Where possible, workplaces should implement universal design practices to ensure that all people can access and fully participate in the workplace.

• Staff Disability Inclusion Workshop
• Inclusive language provides a guideline on how to use inclusive language to that can promote disability inclusion
• JobAcess provides advice for managers on employing people with a disability, including key contacts, support available for workplace adjustments, recruitment guidelines, checklists and guides

The UQ Disability Inclusion Group provides a consultative mechanism for the development and implementation of disability inclusion initiatives across UQ.

We provide a range of mental health support services for staff and managers, including the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Staff or supervisors seeking support for staff for mental health concerns should contact their HR team. HR can refer the staff member to the Workplace Psychologist.

The UQ Disability Inclusion Group (UQ DIG) draws from a wide range of world-leading scholars across UQ who advance ability equality and promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities.

UQ researchers are engaged in innovative and significant interdisciplinary research projects alone and collaborating within schools and faculties, and across school and faculty boundaries on disability issues including:

Operation of law and public policies on managing disability

• Dr Paul Harpur  - analysing the normative and legal implication of the new United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Professor John Devereux - health and disability laws
• Ms Claire Brolan - creating an evidence base for disability inclusive sustainable development goal implementation
• Professor Luke Connelly - welfare economics of disability

Persons with disabilities and their right to education

• Dr Rhonda Faragher - analysing the school experiences of students with intellectual disabilities
• Professor Annemaree Carroll - teachers' discomfort levels toward people with disabilities
• Associate Professor Lydia Kavanag - helping academics manage students with “invisible disabilities”
• Dr Paul Harpur - the right to education under international and national human rights laws

Persons with disabilities exercising their right to work

• Professor Greg Marston - disability, welfare, and work

The capacity of persons with disabilities to exercise their right to live independently

• Emeritus Professor Adrian Ashman - deinstitutionalisation and changes in life circumstances of adults with an intellectual disability
• Professor Tamara Walsh - criminalisation of poverty and homelessness

Persons with disabilities participating in recreation and sport

• Associate Professor Sean Tweedy - promoting participation in sport by people with disabilities
• Associate Professor Murray Phillips - analysing the history and role of elite disability sports, such as the Paralympics

Living with a disability

• Dr Kathy Ellem - how disability intensifies the risk of social exclusion and adverse life experiences
• Professor Karen Nankervis - interactions that facilitate positive life events for people with intellectual disabilities
• Associate Professor Karen Moni - how young adults with an intellectual disability construct their futures
• Dr Merrill Turpin - fatigue management while living with a disability
• Associate Professor Jodie Copley - assistive technology assessments
• Professor Jennifer Fleming - identifying factors for successful integration of persons with disabilities post motor vehicle accidents

Stigma experienced by persons with disabilities

• Dr Jenny Setchell - disability stigma

The above list of disability related experts at UQ is far from comprehensive. A full list of UQ researchers can be found on UQ Experts under ableism, disability or neurodiversity at work.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA (WCAG) provide guidelines of how to ensure a website is accessible. Compliance with these guidelines is recommended by the Australian Human Rights Commission and is adhered to by all government websites.

Our web accessibility guide include a practical guide on how to meet expected accessibility standards. 

In-built functions in Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat allow you to test the accessibility of your document, and provide tips on how to fix any issues.

The UQ Staff Disability Travel Fund (PDF, 455 KB) provides funding to cover the additional costs associated with disability when staff with disability are travelling for work-related purposes, as per the University Travel Management Policy and other relevant policies. The Travel Fund may be used for a diverse range of reasonable supports, including:

• a travelling companion or in-location carer/guide;
• a person to assist with communication in-location;
• assistive mechanisms, such as a wheelchair; and/or
• hiring medical equipment in-location.

To apply for the Travel Fund, staff should submit an application via email to their local decision maker or directly to Workplace Diversity and Inclusion in situations where non-disclosure of the disability is preferred which:

• confirms their eligibility to access the Travel Fund;
• outlines the nature of the travel and impact on career outcomes;
• outlines how the Travel Fund will be used;
• an itemised account of intended costs;
• includes any other relevant information.

Please see the UQ Staff Disability Travel Fund (PDF, 455 KB) and How to Apply for
The Disability Travel Support Fund (PDF, 139KB) for further information. For any additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact Workplace Diversity and Inclusion at ideals@uq.edu.au