For five years, Glenburnie woman Ruth Mott has had a challenge getting back into the local workforce.

The 62-year-old has years of experience as a farmer, nurse, justice of the peace, and community volunteer.

But Ms Mott was one of the 4.4 million Australians living with a disability and it had made finding a job difficult.

“It’s very frustrating. You feel like you’re inferior to everyone else and that they don’t really give a damn,” she said.

Five years ago, an accident at work led to Ms Mott sustaining a severe spinal cord injury.

She is now a paraplegic and uses a wheelchair. 

Ms Mott moved to Mount Gambier 15 years ago to work as a nurse.(ABC South East SA: Sam Bradbrook)

After taking some time to get used to living with a disability, she started applying for jobs and performed well in interviews over the phone. 

But once it came time to meet prospective employers face to face, she found her disability was a barrier. 

After missing out on three jobs, Ms Mott took a break from trying to find work, leading to a drop in self-confidence. 

“The first interview I couldn’t even get into the door of the building and they didn’t even have courtesy to come out and say sorry,” she said. 

“The third [interview], he was brilliant, they made arrangements for me to get in, rearranged things so I could attend the interview, and was willing to alter things should I get the position.

“That made me feel like I was a person again, but unfortunately I just missed out on that position.”

Her employment difficulties came at a time in Mount Gambier, South Australia’s second-largest city, where unemployment was at a record low and businesses had been calling for more staff. 

Unemployment at record lows  

The latest Australian labour force data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed unemployment in the South East region, which includes the Limestone Coast, Riverland and Murraylands, is at 2.7 per cent. 

It’s the lowest since the ABS started recording local statistics in September 1999. 

Hospitality is one of the sectors facing a shortage of workers in Mount Gambier.(ABC News: Alkira Reinfrank)

Workforce Australia support officer Caitlin Kennedy said hospitality and tourism in Mount Gambier, and the wider South East, were industries in particular need of workers.

She said local businesses needed to consider flexible employment conditions and hiring people with disability or from diverse backgrounds.

“Having a low unemployment rate means the people who are left may have some barriers to employment,” she said. 

“It can be tricky for local employers, but it means they just need to offer some flexibility and maybe be a bit more realistic with expectations. 

“Perhaps they need to offer mentorships or training and just be adaptable to the market.” 

Mount Gambier is located about five hours’ drive south-east of Adelaide, near the Victorian border.(ABC South East SA: Bec Whetham)

Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce chair Candice Fennell said local businesses had been dealing with staffing shortages since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“It’s a catch-22 because we always want to aim for as many people as possible to be gainfully employed, whether that’s full time, part time or casual,” she said. 

“But it does create a significant challenge for all businesses big and small to get the right person for the jobs they need.” 

Diversity ‘makes workforce stronger’  

Employment and disability advocate Tessa Deak works for Purple Orange, a group that provides support for people with disability looking to find work and to employers to create inclusive workplaces. 

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, people with disability are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as people without disability. 

Tessa Deak was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome when she was a teenager and is now an employment advocate.(ABC South East SA: Sam Bradbrook)

Ms Deak said it was a positive local businesses were encouraged to consider hiring people with disability to fill gaps, but employers should always be looking at diverse candidates. 

“We should always be trying to appeal to as many potential candidates as we can because that always makes our workforce stronger,” she said. 

“It leads to better products and services because we’re getting more perspectives from a range of different people. 

“That experience makes such a huge difference into the day-to-day work we do.”

Ms Mott has re-entered the workforce for the first time in five years.(ABC South East SA: Sam Bradbrook)

The new year came with good news for Ms Mott, who is set to start her first job since her accident this week. 

She has picked up casual work with Purple Orange as a support group leader for other people with disability. 

Ms Mott said people with a disability should keep pushing their case to employers and recognise their value. 

“Have confidence in yourself,” she said.

“Believe in yourself, know that you can do it, and the opportunity will come along.”

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