Tourism Local Navigator Pilot Project

Building disability-inclusive tourism across South Australia

The Tourism Local Navigator Pilot Project was a partnership between JFA Purple Orange and the Tourism Industry Council South Australia (TiCSA), funded by the Department of Social Services.

As one of the outcomes of the Jobs and Skills Summit (2022), the project explored new ways to connect tourism employers with job seekers with disability — helping businesses strengthen inclusion while expanding access to meaningful employment in the tourism sector.

About the project

The pilot supported small and medium tourism businesses to recruit, retain, and promote employees with disability. Through our Business Mentoring Program, we worked directly with employers to:

• Build capability and confidence in inclusive employment.
• Access national resources such as JobAccess and local disability employment supports.
• Connect with skilled job seekers with disability.
• Develop tailored action plans to embed accessibility and inclusion in the workplace.

Participating businesses were also offered Inclusive Recruitment Training, Disability Inclusion Training, and Disability Access Checks, ensuring they could continue their inclusion journey well beyond the pilot.

Why disability-inclusive employment matters

• More than 2.1 million Australians of working age live with disability.
• Only 53% of these individuals are currently employed, compared to 83% of people without disability — a gap that has remained unchanged for decades.
• Barriers include low expectations, inaccessible workplaces, and limited opportunities.

Through this project, we helped tourism businesses see the value of inclusion — not just for individuals, but for the entire industry.

The benefits for employers

Employers involved in the pilot reported that inclusive employment practices led to stronger teams, better customer experiences, and more positive workplace culture. Research continues to show that employees with disability:

• Take less sick leave and remain in jobs longer.
• Experience fewer workplace incidents.
• Build stronger relationships with customers.
• Boost morale and collaboration among teams.

Project outcomes

By the project’s conclusion, participating businesses had developed practical inclusion strategies, built stronger networks, and gained the confidence to continue employing people with disability.

Continuing the work

While the pilot has now concluded, its lessons continue to shape how we support employers across South Australia. If you’d like to explore inclusive employment opportunities for your business, visit our Road to Employment.