Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA), has submitted a comprehensive response to the Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) Gender Economic Equality Study.
Our submission highlights the systemic barriers that women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities face in education and employment, contributing to significant economic inequality. We draw upon extensive advocacy and research, including responses to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, the Disability Employment Services Consumer Engagement Project, and in depth policy analysis.
Key areas addressed include:
- Gendered education divides: We highlight how segregated education systems limit career pathways, particularly for women with intellectual disabilities, and how restrictive practices and violence in educational settings violate human rights and undermine workforce readiness.
- Occupational segregation: We detail the overrepresentation of women with disabilities in low-paid, under-valued sectors, the exploitation within Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs), and the critical data gaps that obscure the true extent of intersectional disadvantage.
- Systemic exclusion in higher education: We highlight how the Universities Accord perpetuates exclusion and the setting of low expectations for students with disabilities, disproportionately impacting women.
WWDA’s submission provides concrete policy recommendations, including:
- Legislating inclusive education reforms and phasing out segregated schooling.
- Eliminating subminimum wages in ADEs.
- Mandating intersectional workforce reporting.
- Implementing gender-specific targets within national disability employment strategies.
Our goal is to ensure the JSA study accurately reflects the experiences of women, girls and gender-diverse people with disabilities and leads to meaningful policy change to promote economic equality.