Building better businesses through inclusion
One in five Australians lives with a disability. In the hunt for diverse talent, Cushman & Wakefield says businesses based on inclusion attract loyal staff, build brand value and strengthen client relationships.
The 4.2 million Australians living with a disability face disproportionate exclusion, unemployment and poor health outcomes.
But there’s a strong business case for inclusion, says Anna Town, Cushman & Wakefield’s head of strategic marketing for Australia and New Zealand.
“Employing people with disabilities can expand a company’s recruitment talent pool, secure tenure and strengthen workplace morale,” Town explains.
It’s this business case that motivated Cushman & Wakefield to establish a partnership with JobSupport, a specialist employment service that helps people with disabilities get their foot on the employment ladder.
“Six employees have joined us through JobSupport to manage our front-of-house functions. They are absolutely part of the Cushman & Wakefield family and bring a wonderful energy to our business,” Town explains.
“We get amazing feedback from our customers, and our employees are proud to work in a place that caters to a range of different people and abilities.”
JobSupport opens door to opportunity
Eddie Guo works in Cushman & Wakefield’s Sydney office, and came to the company through JobSupport more than two years ago. Guo helps the office run smoothly, handles mail, printing and stationery, and keeps the kitchens spotless.
“Eddie brings a smile to our faces every day,” says Mariana Matei, the company’s facility coordinator and Guo’s supervisor. She says Guo (pictured above, centre) has formed strong bonds with his colleagues and inspires the workplace with his enthusiasm and energy.
In the two-plus years Guo has been with Cushman & Wakefield, he hasn’t taken a holiday, because he loves his work. “The people are the best thing about my job,” Guo says.
Guo is full of praise for JobSupport. “They are a good agency. They trained me, found me a job and offered me support,” he explains.
Cushman & Wakefield’s partnership approach with JobSupport is now being emulated in its offices internationally, and Town says her team is working with its client network to help place more JobSupport candidates in corporate offices in Australia.
James Patterson, Cushman & Wakefield’s chief executive for Australia and New Zealand, together with other real estate industry colleagues, recently helped JobSupport secure a $3,000 grant from the Ian Potter Foundation to expand its program to Brisbane. Cushman & Wakefield has since employed two new team members from JobSupport in its Brisbane office.
“The average tenure of a person employed through JobSupport is 7.2 years. Find someone with the right skillset and they will stay,” Town adds.
Diversity drives business performance
Cushman & Wakefield took home the Moulis Legal Award for Diversity for companies with more than 2 employees at the Property Council of Australia / Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards earlier this year.
The commercial real estate agency’s commitment to diversity is impressive. Chief executive Patterson (pictured, right) is a Property Male Champion of Change, leading a strategy which has seen the number of women in key management positions rise from 18 to 40 per cent in the last year alone.
The company is also focused on reconciliation with First Australians, spending around $25 million with Indigenous businesses and have a partnership with Supply Nation.
But it is disability inclusion where Cushman & Wakefield really stands out from the crowd.
For the last two years, Patterson and his team have partnered with Vivid Sydney to expand access and inclusion initiatives at the festival, funding accessible viewing areas, dedicated drop off and pick up zones for people with limited mobility, as well as audio descriptions and Auslan interpreters.
“We want everyone to be able to experience the magic of Vivid Sydney,” Town explains.
A Vivid vision for inclusion
This year, 1 Cushman & Wakefield staff volunteered across the 23-day festival. The company also sponsored three private tours for special needs schools and hosted an art show by Digby Webster, a Sydney-based artist with Down syndrome.
Cushman & Wakefield also brought together experts in special needs care, design, creative thinking, lighting, engineering and construction to reimagine the inclusive playground.
The result? An accessible playground at Tumbalong Park which featured a series of interactive and inclusive light installations for the duration of Vivid.
“Inclusive play is more than just access. It means equal participation,” Town says.
“It doesn’t need to be expensive – it comes down to design. All that is required are ideas, conversations and imagination. And partnerships to build and create possibilities.”
The experience with Vivid Sydney has emphasised “the power of collaboration”, Town adds.
“We are proud of our work so far, but want to keep broadening the idea of inclusion within the property industry so that more people can connect, engage and be their best.”