Monday, May 09 2011
Claire Stewart is a Diversity and Flexibility Manager for the Westpac Group. She has been pivotal in implementing the trial of Ai-Live @ Work for some of the Westpac Group's Deaf and hearing impaired employees.
The Westpac Group is committed to an ambitious Diversity Agenda and 2011 Accessibility Action Plan. Managing the Westpac Group Accessibility strategy is Diversity & Flexibility Manager, Claire Stewart – a self proclaimed “Sco-stralian” and advocate of innovative solutions for disabled employees in the workplace. Ai-Live™ service has been implemented into The Westpac Group’s workplace offering Deaf and hearing impaired employees greater access, plus a sense of independence and inclusion.
Claire: I manage our accessibility strategy, which is a stream of our broader Diversity and Flexibility strategy, across all of our brands. This involves a managing a variety of different projects focused on improving accessibility for customers and employees across
The Westpac Group.
How did you become interested in this type of role?
Claire: I have worked in the HR field for 12 years now and have always had a passion for diversity. I am a people-focused person and enjoy that this space appreciates people as unique.
What motivates you each day?
Claire: I can see the immediate positive impact my work has for people with disability or other accessibility needs. I learn something new everyday and feel very lucky to do what I do.
What does Diversity mean to you?
Claire: Diversity to me, means that people are appreciated and respected for what they do, and for their impact on the rich tapestry of life.
Part of The Westpac Group’s DNA is a “deep listening” culture. How does this bring about transformation for people with a disability?
Claire: Deep listening and taking action are foundations to bringing about transformation. It helps us to both understand and set the agenda for everyone’s benefit.
Claire: Effective accessibility action is driven by:
1. Universal design: Products, services and environments should be designed in a way that the whole community can access them.
2. Integrated Diversity: Healthy teams and communities are diverse and integrated and each individual brings something special to the whole
3. Shared Voices: Shared stories and experiences build understanding, break down barriers and destroy misconceptions.
4. Empathetic Action: Empathy without action can become dangerously close to pity; we see empathy as a starting point from which to deliver tangible action.
Full time Auslan Interpreters are employed by The Westpac Group, what do they do there?
Claire: We have a fantastic team of award winning Auslan interpreters who provide Auslan interpreting to Deaf employees in our Concord West office. In addition to this our branches can also book Auslan Interpreters for customers attending branch visits.
How has implementing the Ai-Live™ service removed barriers for your Deaf and hearing impaired employees?
Claire: It can be hard for someone who is hearing impaired and lip-reads to keep up with the flow of conversation in meetings/public forums, let alone someone who is Deaf and requires an Auslan interpreter.
Ai-Live™ @ Work has removed barriers in meetings, or other public forums, where people who are Deaf or hearing impaired would otherwise not have een able to fully participate. The solution has given freedom to these individuals and the feedback has been really positive. I am incredibly happy to have found
Ai-Live™ @ Work.
Who do you admire?
Claire: In my role I get to meet lots of people who inspire me. Last year, I heard the wheelchair athlete and paralympian,
Kurt Fearnley OAM, speak about his 96km trek across the Kokoda trail and I was inspired by his energy and drive. I also love a quote I heard from the
Australian Human Rights Comission, “Don’t judge what I can do by what you think I can’t”. How true for all of us? I have that on my desk.
What’s next for Claire Stewart?
Claire: I am passionate about increasing disability confidence and awareness in the workplace, particularly hidden disabilities such as mental illness, which can be prevalent in corporate environments. I have seen so much positive intent across the Group and we are working to make sure our employees have information readily available to address knowledge gaps! I’m keen to see improvements in the workforce participation rate for people with disability. In comparison to the workforce participation for people without disability, there is still much to be done!
To learn more about Claire Stewart’s Ai-Live™ experience, check out the Ai-Live™ @ Work video.
