This week, Jigsaw Melbourne hosted a powerful morning of connection, learning, and practical insights into disability confidence in the workplace. HR leaders, DEI professionals, executives, and business leaders came together to explore strategies for creating more inclusive employment opportunities.
The event featured a sample of Jigsaw’s Disability Awareness Training, networking over breakfast, and stories from Jigsaw trainees and graduates. Guests also heard from Dr. Michael Meehan, Melbourne Hub Manager, and Michael Savanis, Head of Growth Jigsaw Australia, who outlined Jigsaw’s vision of an Australia where people with disability are fully included in the workforce.
Michael highlighted that while Jigsaw exists to create outcomes for participants, it is only through employers’ actions that this vision becomes reality. He stressed the importance of preparing workplaces through disability confidence training and then introduced Wendi Nisbet, Operations Manager at Allianz, to share Allianz’s inclusive hiring journey with Jigsaw.
Allianz’s journey towards inclusion
In her keynote, Wendi spoke candidly about the value of welcoming Jigsaw trainees into Allianz:
“By bringing on a Jigsaw employee, you’re bringing on someone who is committed. They want to have a role, a purpose, like the rest of us – some pride and that feeling of being able to contribute like the rest of us.”
“That’s the sort of people Jigsaw trainees are – they get knocked down a lot in life, but they get themselves back up. Their tenacity is really admirable.”
She described how Allianz partnered with Jigsaw to shape meaningful placements through trial programs and ongoing support. Initially, a six-month trial gave both sides the opportunity to learn what worked best. One placement didn’t quite fit, but another flourished:
“One trainee took to the role quite well throughout the trial, and we eventually took them on as a permanent Allianz employee. It’s important to trial and ensure it works for everyone.”
When asked what she’d do differently, Wendi reflected on the importance of learning styles:
“I would have asked how the trainee learns, right from the start. Breaking down tasks, simplifying the work, and removing unnecessary ‘noise’ made things far less overwhelming. For example, we had a very large spreadsheet with many tabs and different functions, which was difficult to navigate as much of it wasn’t relevant. By breaking that spreadsheet up into multiple, smaller versions, the trainee was able to excel in the task they were assigned.”
Her advice to employers: don’t underestimate the importance of education and awareness.
“We did training with the immediate team, but in hindsight, I would have trained the whole department. With daily crossover, continuous learning and reinforcement is essential.”
Insights from Jigsaw trainees
Attendees also heard directly from AJ, a Jigsaw trainee, who shared powerful insights about what helps him succeed at work:
“Give me extra clarification when I need it. Sometimes I might need to be shown a couple of times – but then I’ll get it!”
This highlighted how small adjustments in communication can unlock confidence and productivity, reinforcing the importance of patience and flexibility.
Audience reflections
To close, participants reflected on their own organisational practices. Many already implement inclusive approaches such as:
- Sending interview questions to candidates in advance
- Replacing formal interviews with informal or virtual chats
- Requiring all staff to complete baseline disability training
But opportunities for improvement were also identified, including:
- Providing more education and awareness across teams
- Supporting smoother workplace transitions rather than expecting “hit the ground running” performance
- Addressing physical accessibility in offices
- Embedding universal design practices that benefit all employees
A vibrant morning of change
The event concluded as Jigsaw trainees began their workday, giving attendees a first-hand look at the energy and culture within the hub.
The morning was a clear reminder that inclusive hiring is not just a social good – it’s a business imperative. With the right preparation and support, organisations can unlock resilience, tenacity, and commitment that strengthen teams and drive business outcomes.
Jigsaw is proud to partner with organisations like Allianz and looks forward to working with more employers to improve employment opportunities for people with disability across Australia.
Watch this space for details of our next inclusive workplace event at a Jigsaw hub near you.
If you would like to learn more about how Jigsaw can help your business improve inclusivity, please email jbs@jigsawaustralia.com.au or head to jigsawaustralia.com.au/jigsawbusiness/
About Jigsaw
Jigsaw is a social enterprise that provides an innovative pathway to mainstream employment for people with disability. By embedding a comprehensive skill-based training program within our commercial document and data management business, Jigsaw enables people with disability to achieve their employment goals at their own pace. Jigsaw’s holistic approach starts from the very basics of core work skills and supports trainees all the way through to transition to open employment with ongoing support and coaching once they have transitioned. Jigsaw is located in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Canberra.