Building Employer Confidence – Beyond Sport Program

Building Employer Confidence (BEC) is the employer stream of Paralympics Australia’s Beyond Sport Mentoring and Employment Program.

Started in 2022 as an innovative collaboration between Paralympics Australia and the Australian Government, BEC builds the confidence of employers to hire, retain and support talented people with disability.

Working with athletes, employers and disability advocates through a co-design process built on human-centred and universal design principles, we equip employers with the tools and knowledge to create inclusive workplaces that champion equal opportunity.

Learn about the Beyond Sport Mentoring and Employment Program

You can get involved in the Beyond Sport Mentoring and Employment Program by registering your interest as a collaborator, employer, organisation, supporter, athlete/PwD doing paid work for your expertise, mentor, mentee, and/or ask any questions

Beyond Sport Program Enquiry

If you have any accessibility requirements or need assistance, please let us know how we can support you, and if you have any questions, or would like to submit via email, please contact us via email.

1 in 5 Australians live with a disability and are twice as likely to face unemployment, with employer hesitancy due to a lack of understanding and confidence being a key attitudinal barrier limiting opportunities for Paralympians, Para athletes and people with disability.

Building employer confidence is essential to address misconceptions about the capabilities of people with disabilities, empowering employers to redesign roles, implement universal design and create truly inclusive workplaces that support meaningful and flexible employment.

It drives systemic change across Australian workplaces by building strategic partnerships with leading organisations modelling inclusive employment and contributing to greater workforce diversity and equity.

PA’s Beyond Sport BEC program delivers proven impact, achieving 100% of employers reporting significant confidence shifts in hiring and supporting people with disability, high session satisfaction (94%) and strong employment outcomes – including over 130 placements supported so far.

• Connection to Paralympians, Para athletes and People with Disability seeking employment with organisations
• Guidance and support to increase accessibility and inclusion in your workplace
• Access to Community of Practice sessions, bringing together employers and Para athletes to discuss barriers and solutions on “how to” of inclusion and topics tailored to your needs
• Bespoke training, tools and assessments with Paralympians, Para athletes, People with Disability lived experience, and co-designed for your unique workplace
• Program support to identify opportunities, redesign roles, onboard and support employees and managers
• Opportunities to bring Paralympians and Para athletes into workplace discussions on disability, inclusion, resilience, performance, universal design, and other areas tailored to your workplace

Building Employer Confidence FAQs

Universal Design Guide