Y Connect

Workplace Disability Inclusion and Diversity Packages

The Y Connect Program, in partnership with Inclusion Access, is offering a limited number of ‘Workplace Culture Inclusion and Diversity’ packages (valued up to $5800) to eligible workplaces servicing the Toowoomba region.

What the package includes
Culture Inclusion and Diversity check-up:

• Culture survey for all staff and management
• Policy review
• Employee onboarding procedures
• Introduction to “Inclusion Champions” and relevant training
• “Walk and Talk” barrier identification
• Staff education (1 hour)

We estimate this will be up to 10 business days’ worth of time. However, this will depend on the size of your organisation.

Why employers should apply

Research indicates that workplaces that embrace disability employment enjoy many positive benefits, including:

• Increased employee retention
• Improving brand reputation
• Lower incidence of workplace injury
• Enhanced productivity
• Lower absenteeism
• Improved employee morale and positive organisational culture

  Eligibility criteria

• Your organisation must have between 10 to 100 staff with at least 50% of the workforce based in Toowoomba.
• A manager or decision-maker who has the capacity to make change within the organisation and available to work with Inclusion Access over the package period. For example, Inclusion Access allocates up to 10 days’ worth of time to work with successful applicants and employers need to be available during this process. Please note timeframes are negotiated with successful applicants and the amount of time will vary depending on the size of the organisation and whether your organisation has existing plans and policies.
• Must be able to incorporate key elements of disability inclusion and diversity into a current or future position such as a workplace inclusion champion (Approx. 2 hours per week depending on size of organisation).
• Must be able to provide a statement or letter of support from management, the executive leadership team, or the organisational board if applicable.
• Must be able to complete this work by June 2026.

Individual Computer Skills Sessions

The Y Connect Program is offering a limited number of FREE individual computer skills sessions. You can select topics such as introduction to email, organising your computer and managing files/documents, introduction to Microsoft Word and Excel, or you can let us know what computer topic you would like help with, and we may be able to develop a session for you.

Each topic is an independent 1 or 2 hour session. In your registration form, please select all the topics you would like help with. Spots are limited so be QUICK!

Once you have submitted your registration form, a Y Connect facilitator will contact you to organise a time and location for your session. Sessions can also be held online.

For face-to-face sessions, a computer is supplied however you’re more than welcome to bring your own laptop.

To attend these workshops, you must identify as a woman or gender diverse person living with a disability.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Y Connect Program Coordinator, Francene Bain, on 0482 166 154 or email francene.bain@ywca.org.au

DETAILS:
Cost: FREE
When: by appointment
Where: online or in-person. Location to be determined by you and the facilitator.

Money wYse Sessions

Currently closed – check again soon

The Y Connect Program is offering individual Money wYse sessions designed to help participants build skills, knowledge and confidence in money management. Each session utilises the MoneyMinded resources which were developed in 2002 by ANZ in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education and Training, Financial Counselling Australia, the Financial Counsellors Association of NSW, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and community sector representatives. There are a wide variety of topics available and sessions can be tailored to meet the needs of participants. Some examples of topics include: Goal Setting; Saving and Spending (budgeting); Everyday Banking; and, Superannuation & Everyday Paperwork.

Please note sessions are held online, they are one to two hours each, and there is a maximum of five sessions per participant. In your registration form, please select the topics you would like help with. Spots are limited so be QUICK!

Money wYse sessions are designed to provide information and ideas. The session facilitator is not a financial counsellor and does not provide financial services or advice.

Once you have submitted your registration form, a Y Connect facilitator will contact you to organise a time and location for your session. Sessions are held online.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Y Connect Program Coordinator, Francene Bain, on 0482 166 154 or email francene.bain@ywca.org.au

DETAILS:
Cost: Free
When: by appointment
Where: online. The time will be determined by you and the facilitator.

Mental wellness sessions

Is anxiety and burnout holding you back in the workplace? The Y Connect Program is offering a limited number of free individual one-on-one mental wellness sessions with Inclusive Counselling Collective. These sessions are designed to help you with either your resilience, understanding of anxiety and potential burn out. The three topics in this series are independent sessions that you can book separately. You can book one or multiple sessions however each session will focus on a different topic.

Please click here to see what each session covers.

If you are interested in booking more than one topic/session, please rank your preference from 1 to 3 (1=first preference and so on) and the Y Connect Program Coordinator will contact you to confirm availability and advise you about your session.

DETAILS:
Cost: Free
When: by appointment
Where: online or in-person. Location to be determined by you

Mentoring

• Are you interested in being mentored as you work towards your goals for employment?
• Do you identify as a woman or gender diverse person living with disability?
• Are you able to commit to a mentoring relationship for at least 2 hours per month for up to 9 months?

YWCA Australia and the Y Connect Program would like to help you build your skills and networks to support you with your employment and career goals. The Y Connect Mentoring Program will support women and gender diverse people living with disability to develop strengths and work towards their employment and/or career aspirations.

The Y Connect Program will match you with a mentor that will help you realise your potential. To ensure that you are matched with someone who will understand you, the Y Connect Program will take into account your abilities, employment goals, skills, previous work experience and your personal attributes and preferences.

There is no cost to participate in this program and all mentors identify as women.

Limited places are available.

All applicants will be contacted for an informal interview to determine suitability for the mentoring program.

If you have any questions or would like assistance completing the application form, please call or email the Y Connect Program Coordinator, Francene Bain, on 0482 166 154 or francene.bain@ywca.org.au.