The presentation focuses on business solutions to support and enable job applicants, candidates, new recruits and existing employees, contractors and temporary staff with disabilities. It includes an overview of my journey with a non-visible disability and its effects on my career and professional life. Real-life workplace situations provide a perspective from the person with the disability.
It forms a part of engagement with executive leadership teams, board members and senior managers, with a view to developing organisation wide strategies that not only fulfil the obligations of the Disability Discriminaton Act 1992, but create a working environment with improved workforce satisfaction and increased workforce retention rates.
The information content below outlines the development of my disability, my experience in workplaces and the motivation behind establishing and operating a micro consultancy. The format is similar to the presentation, but does not describe business solutions.
Contact me at john@badwater.com.au to arrange a phone or video call to discuss the presentation format, how I can assist your organisation and to arrange an appointment.
Professional Journey with Non-Visible Disability
Awareness and Diagnosis
I became aware of a problem with my immune system during a visit to the USA in 1984. I contracted a virus and suddenly began experiencing symptoms that drained my energy and ability to fully process and retain information. The symptoms didn't go away and I was diagnosed with an untreatable immune system dysfunction. The severity of symptoms fluctuated, and increased following any kind of viral infection.
After several years of stable symptoms, another virus increased the severity of my condition and my employer terminated my employment. Unable to maintain an income, I applied for the Disability Support Pension.
Disability
My disability affects my:
- Immune system
- Central nervous system
- Psychological function
After securing access to the Disability Support Pension, I moved to Melbourne and started rebuilding my life under changed rules. A major aspect of this was to learn to live within the constraints of my disability, stabilise my health and return to work.
Looking for Work
When I felt I could handle a return to work I wanted to be upfront about my disability and engage in part-time employment. I approached Centrelink with my plans and was referred to a government funded employment service.
The service appeared to be aimed at helping candidates with minimal experience and qualifications. The consultant discouraged me from applying for positions above entry level and advised me to rewrite my resume, removing much of my experience and all of my achievements.
I approached a large mainstream employment agency. Although I didn't share information about my disability, I stated that I was only able to work a maximum of 20 hours per week. I aced the Excel exam and was onboarded into the temporary team.
Back to Work
My first assignment was as a part-time payroll analyst with an international corporation. I created menu-driven reports in Excel using VBA macros to extract data from the payroll system and produce reports in the format I designed with senior managers.
When I completed my assignment I took a break and was asked to return to work as a special assistant to the financial controller to project manage a system that needed to be Y2K compliant. I accepted the role, which I delivered on time. Into 2000 I was able to increase my hours to full-time and effectively manage my health.
Working with no Safety Net
Following my successful return to work I decide to leave Australia to live in Europe. This meant giving up the safety net of the Disability Support Pension, but I was confident that I could work and manage my symptoms.
I started a six month contract role in The Netherlands, which was extended several times before the department I was working in was restructured and my role was no longer required. I decided to stay in The Netherlands and secured a permanent position with an international chemicals company. As financial accountant, the work was fairly predictable and I was able to control my symptoms while delivering the requirements of my role.
After a year of this work, I was transferred onto a project, which required long hours and extensive European travel. The result was a major decline in my health. On a two week trip to Italy I deteriorated significantly and I was unable to work. My employer was supportive, but the doctor at the external organisation responsible for employee health concerns was not so accommodating. In spite of the medical evidence I provided, he refused to believe that I had a disability. This resulted in the termination of my employment contract. I received a payout, but was advised that I would not be eligible for Dutch disability benefits.
Reinventing, Working, Stumbling
I moved to London, and spent several months resting before attempting to return to work. My first role was a temporary position with a city council. My assignment was cut short by my manager because I took several (unpaid) sick days. These were often taken on a Monday, after I had exhausted myself with household chores, shopping, planning for the week ahead and sometimes visiting my elderly mother. He assumed I had been out partying all weekend and made no effort to ask for a reason before ending my contract.
My next role as a health analyst with the NHS was more successful and was able to balance my health issues with the requirements of the position. I worked on a major healthcare project and was able to secure a similar position when I moved to rural area of England. As my experience increased, I reduced my days to three and was home based, with occasional local travel. I had finally found a working situation I could manage without the need to take sick leave or share information about my disability.
The working situation I had enjoyed in England did not continue when I returned to Australia. I initially worked in a regional hospital. Although I was open about my disability, my manager had no interest in accommodating my needs and insisted on me working long hours. I was unable to sustain the hours I was required to work and left the organisation.
My next role was with a faith-based not-for-profit community services provider. When I took three days' sick leave, my employment was terminated by my manager, who refused to accept that I had a disability.
In 2009 I applied for the Disability Support Pension, but my claim was denied and I had no energy to go through the appeals process. The reason was that, although my disability was the same as before, the rules had changed and that I no longer qualified for benefits.
In 2010 I secured a position as a data manager at a hospital. My manager was empathetic to my disability and allowed me to work from home two days per week. Some of my colleagues referred to this arrangement as my "days off".
The pattern of working in contracts, then taking breaks, became business as usual for me. Sometimes I shared information about my disability, and sometimes I kept quiet and suffered in silence. Through this working structure my health stabilised and, for the most part, I achieved the best work/life balance possible.
I continued to encounter managers who refused to accept my disability and others who were empathetic to my situation. I established a sole trader consultancy and used this structure to secure contracting and consultancy roles with provisions built into my contract or service agreement to accommodate my disabilty.
The Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic occurred when I was working in a temporary project analyst role. I had not shared information about my disability. It was a short term assignment, which was extended during lockdown. Working from home was ideal for me because I was able to take breaks when needed and complete my hours during times when I was most productive. I eventually shared information with my manager. He was very supportive, but left the project and was replaced by a manager who insisted on all staff returning to the office. When I refused, they threatened to terminate my contract. Work colleagues came to my defence and the decision to terminate my contract was overruled by the head of the department.
After leaving that position, I moved to NSW to take up a part-time role as a health data analyst. I was upfront about my disability even before applying for the position. My manager was not the person who managed my recruitment, and refused to provide the workplace adjustments I needed, and had been verbally promised prior to commencement. I had no option other than to resign because I was unable to fulfil the requirements of my role without adjustments.
Business Planning to Disability Support Pension 2.0
I needed to have more control over my work activities and decided to re-establish the consultancy that I had maintained over the years, but only used occasionally. In 2023, I participated in the Self Employment Assistance program and developed a business plan that was initially focused on delivering business analysis services.
While reviewing my business plan I realised that something was missing. It was my passion. As a business owner, I wanted to deliver services in which I was personally invested. It became clear that I should focus on services that would result in improving the lives of person's experiencing disadvantage, with disabilities or healthcare needs.
As this work progressed I contracted another viral infection and my health deteriorated again. I made the decision to apply for the Disability Support Pension. My claim was denied within days. However, I persisted and eventually enlisted the help of my local MP. Within a month my claim was reviewed and the decision to deny it was overturned. I received an apology from Centrelink, after several mistakes in the claim process were uncovered. After 24 years my safety net had been reinstalled.
Current Activities
The DSP provides a safety net, but it is still important to me to work within my capability. I have created a home office environment where I am able to work at a computer, partially reclined. I can perform the majority of my business activities online.
I became a certified independent NDIS worker, and can provide services to participants who are self managed or plan managed. Drawing on my own experience, my niche is participants who are looking to secure a role that fits their experience and career ambitions, while receiving supports that provide them with equity in the workplace.
Everything I do requires planning, particularly business activities. Business development can be undertaken at any time and on any day of the week. Networking requires a more structured approach, especially if an in-person attendance is required. There are many factors that I need to take into account, including time of day and the risk of having to stand for long periods.
I am currently working on the following initiatives:
- NDIS - Finding and Keeping a Job
- Workplace Adjustments for applicants and employees with disabilities
- Consultancy to assist employers to understand and deliver their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
- Oral Health in Residential Aged Care Homes
- Social Impacts in the workplace
- Presentations of my personal and professional journey with a non-visible disability