Podcasts are an easy way to learn information by listening rather than reading script. Here we have developed a series of podcasts about the Disability Inclusion Discovery program.
Episodes include information about the Access2Work program, interview with supporters and why they got involved, the Inclusion Tick of Approval, people with a disability discussing their customer service experiences and what working means to them plus more.
Pathways to Participation is a four-part podcast series that explores how we can build inclusive hiring processes founded on the premise that disability is part of being human and that every hire decision is an opportunity to include individuals with disability.
Hosted by Chris Firth and featuring Dr Sharna Wiblen, an executive educator and global thought leader on how organisations can design talent systems that enable participation and performance for all, each episode addresses an aspect of inclusive hiring.
The series combines research and actionable guidance to help organisations, recruiters, HR professionals and decision-makers rethink and redesign jobs, work, and selection processes to implement inclusive practices that create pathways to participation for individuals with disability.
This opening episode tackles one of the biggest barriers to inclusive hiring — fear. Fear that it’s too hard, too costly, too complicated, or too risky to employ people with disability. In reality, it’s not a hard problem to solve; it’s a mindset problem to shift. Expanding access to open employment begins with mental flexibility — being willing to question assumptions, think differently about roles, and create workplaces designed for diverse ways of working. The episode’s message is simple but powerful: inclusion isn’t a burden; it’s an opportunity. And if there’s one thing Australians are good at, it’s tackling tough problems.
The episode pairs with a downloadable fact sheet – Debunking Fears about Hiring People with Disability.
Inclusive hiring isn’t a solo act — it’s a coordinated effort that depends on every player doing their part. This episode explores how decisions about who gets hired (and who doesn’t) are shaped by the people involved in the process — recruiters, line managers, job experts, senior leaders, customers, and even technology. Each brings their own lens, preferences, and influence to the table.
Inclusive Hiring Is a Team Sport challenges listeners to think critically about their own role in shaping access to opportunity. Who gets to decide — and who gets to decide who decides? The episode highlights how collaboration, clear roles, and shared accountability can strengthen fairness and decision quality. When every player understands their impact, inclusion becomes more than an HR initiative — it becomes a shared organisational practice that benefits everyone.
Inclusive and ethical hiring requires an intentional shift from screening out to screening in. This is not about relaxing expectations; it is about ensuring that people with disability are not unfairly screened out by criteria that have little to do with actual performance. By widening how we assess suitability, we make deliberate, intentional, and informed decisions (Wiblen, 2024) that focus on job requirements rather than assumptions, habits, or outdated norms.
This episode examines how the judgments we make in interviews — often automatic and well-intentioned — can distort how we see capability. Too often, we equate confidence with competence, polish with potential, and sameness with “fit.” Factors like eye contact, tone of voice, body language, or clothing frequently influence hiring decisions, even though they have little to do with a person’s ability to perform.
Please Don’t Judge Me shines a light on how these cues quietly shape access to opportunity and invites employers to pause, question, and recalibrate what they’re really assessing. When we look beyond appearances and listen for evidence of contribution and character, we make stronger, fairer, and more informed hiring decisions.
Whether you manage a company, run a cafe, lead a hobby group, coach a netball team, or volunteer at a local not-for-profit, inclusion starts with you.
The Flagstaff Group thanks you for joining this five-episode podcast series.
Have you been thinking about the necessary steps to finding a job when you leave school?
Flagstaff Life Choices – School to Work Pathways supports students leaving school, aged 17 years and above.
The Flagstaff Group is a leading provider of employment support to school leavers across Macarthur, the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.
Thank you for joining the Flagstaff School to Work Pathways podcast series. In this episode, Marcus Innes chats with Courtney, a team member within the Flagstaff programme.
Have you been thinking about the necessary steps to finding a job when you leave school?
Flagstaff Life Choices – School to Work Pathways supports students leaving school, aged 17 years and above.
Thank you for joining the Flagstaff School to Work Pathways podcast series. In this episode, Marcus Innes chats with Thomas, a team member within the Flagstaff programme.
Have you been thinking about the necessary steps to finding a job when you leave school?
Flagstaff Life Choices – School to Work Pathways supports students leaving school, aged 17 years and above.
Thank you for joining the Flagstaff School to Work Pathways podcast series. In this episode, Marcus Innes chats with Courtney, a team member within the Flagstaff programme.
Have you been thinking about the necessary steps to finding a job when you leave school?
Flagstaff Life Choices – School to Work Pathways supports students leaving school, aged 17 years and above.
Thank you for joining the Flagstaff School to Work Pathways podcast series. In this episode, Marcus Innes chats with Thomas, a team member within the Flagstaff programme.
Have you been thinking about the necessary steps to finding a job when you leave school?
Flagstaff Life Choices – School to Work Pathways supports students leaving school, aged 17 years and above.
Thank you for joining the Flagstaff School to Work Pathways podcast series. In this episode, Marcus Innes chats with Courtney, a team member within the Flagstaff programme.
Have you been thinking about the necessary steps to finding a job when you leave school?
Flagstaff Life Choices – School to Work Pathways supports students leaving school, aged 17 years and above.
In this video series introduction, professional coach Jodie Cooper outlines her methodology for overcoming self-doubt and cultivating personal confidence. She argues that many individuals hinder their own progress by overthinking challenges and fixating on their perceived inadequacies rather than acknowledging their natural talents.
According to Cooper, true confidence is not defined by perfection, but by a sense of certainty and the resilience to handle mistakes with grace. To counteract the physical symptoms of anxiety, she recommends using deep breathing techniques to soothe the nervous system and regain composure.
By focusing on these practical strategies, viewers can learn to navigate social settings and employment opportunities with a calmer, more capable mindset. Cooper emphasises that managing one's physiological response to stress is the essential first step towards achieving a more confident life.
