theField.jobs, founded by 2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott and launched in November 2022 through the support of the Australian Federal Government, has announced a strategic investment by the privately owned Angus Knight Group (AKG) in a move designed to further grow its ability to break down employment barriers for People with Disability.
Dylan Alcott said the formal alignment with AKG which has a long history of engagement and success in the disability employment space, will help theField.jobs grow as both organisations work to improve employment outcomes for People with Disability.
“Employment equality for people with disabilities has not changed in more than 28 years,” Alcott said.
“Not everybody with disability can work, but everyone deserves the choice and chance to work if they choose. But despite the widely documented skills shortage in Australia, more than 500,000 working-aged people with disabilities are currently actively looking for work. For an organisation with the track record in this sector like AKG to see value in what we are doing is hugely rewarding and validating. We are excited about what our partnership with AKG can achieve.”
Australian owned AKG was founded 33 years ago and has helped more than one million people realise their potential by working with organisations and communities through the delivery of innovative employment solutions.
Group CEO of AKG Nic Fairbank said the two companies share their core values as well as strategic objectives including to deliver diverse and supported pathways into employment.
“We have recognised the work Dylan and theField.jobs have done and the impact it has on bettering the employment outcomes for people with disabilities and we wanted to join their mission.” Nic Fairbank said.
“This partnership signifies a pivotal moment in the journey towards disability inclusion within the workforce. By combining the expertise and resources of theField.jobs and AKG, countless individuals with disabilities who want to work will gain access to meaningful employment opportunities, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.”
Nic Fairbank said AKG would take a minority stake in theField.jobs, with a seat on the company’s board. Day to day running of the business would remain unchanged.
Both organisations recognise that real progress requires collective effort and a commitment to amplifying the voices of individuals with disabilities in the workplace. Together, theField.jobs and AKG will continue to drive systemic change and challenge outdated perceptions surrounding disability employment.
About theField.jobs:
theField.jobs is a new job site built to connect job seekers with disability with jobs from employers wanting to hire more inclusively. Designed, built, and driven by People with Disability, theField.jobs was Founded by 2022 Australian of the Year, Paralympian and disability advocate Dylan Alcott, and is focussed on removing the barriers for People with Disabilities looking to work with organisations looking to employ more inclusively. Using motivation from Dylan’s and many other People with Disabilities own experiences with inequality in the employment cycle, theField.jobs seeks to revolutionise the landscape of disability employment by connecting people with disabilities to organisations committed to diversity and inclusivity.
