JobAccess wins United Nations award for Public Service

JobAccess, which is administered by WorkFocus Australia on behalf of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has been awarded a prestigious United Nations Public Service Award, at a ceremony held in New York during the United Nations Public Service Day celebrations.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs facilitate the search for innovations in governance and public administration through the Public Services Awards Programme.

In a media release acknowledging the award, Minister for Employment Participation said that the honour was well deserved and "fantastic" that this initiative has been recognised internationally by the United Nations.

"Services like JobAccess help employers who are happy to consider employing someone with a disability but don’t know where to start," he said. "People with a disability and/or a mental illness have an enormous contribution to make to Australian society and one of the best ways that they can do that is by having a job."

Other winners were public organisations from Brazil, India, Jordan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia and the USA.

JobAccess is a free service run by disability employment specialists WorkFocus Australia, on behalf of the Australian Government. Any enquiries regarding JobAccess can be made by calling 1800 464 800 or visiting www.jobaccess.gov.au.

Also see link to: http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan030239.pdf