According to a recent report, disabled persons who work in Australia’s screen industry experience prejudice, systemic discrimination, lower pay, higher casualization, stigma, and stereotyping.
The findings, drawn from a national survey of more than 500 people both disabled and non-disabled and in-depth interviews, are included in the “Disability and Screen Work in Australia: Report for Industry 2023,” led by University of Melbourne researcher Dr. Radha O’Meara in partnership with the Melbourne Disability Institute and A2K Media.
The study concluded that impaired screen employees are paid significantly less than their non-disabled counterparts in Australia’s labor-intensive film sector, which employs over 200,000 people. While the majority of non-disabled screen industry workers make more than $1,250 per week, the majority of impaired workers make less than $800 per week.
Compared to non-disabled screen industry workers, handicapped workers are also more likely to work casual or short-term jobs, do unpaid employment, or be unemployed.
With 38% recalling at least one unpleasant experience at work directly related to their disability status in the previous year, such as being insulted, threatened, excluded from groups, or denied access requirements, disabled screen workers also reported frequently encountering stigma, stereotyping, and exclusion at work.
Dr. O’Meara claimed that jokes about disabilities and meetings held without taking into account the employees’ accessibility needs prompted by discriminatory attitudes were two frequent instances of prejudice observed by handicapped screen workers.
Disabled people have so much to contribute to the Australian screen industry. We need greater participation of disabled workers in the industry, and we need these people to be fully included to be surrounded by colleagues and bosses who really value their contributions and will work with them in flexible ways so they can do their jobs well. The screen industry can only attract and retain the best talent if it’s accessible to disabled people.
Dr. Radha O’Meara
“What came up repeatedly in our research was the discriminatory attitudes that disabled workers in the screen industry face, both from their colleagues and their bosses,” Dr. O’Meara said.
“Disabled screen workers told us that practical issues could be solved relatively easily and often at no extra cost if their bosses and colleagues were willing to listen to them and work with them.”
Ade Djajamihardja is a screen producer with A2K Media, a Melbourne-based screen production company that prioritizes disability pride in their purpose, identity and activity.
“I did not realize the extent of both discrimination and exclusion that I would be confronted with as a disabled screen professional. The industry was no longer accessible for me,” Ade Djajamihardja said.
“The first five meetings I tried to attend, I could not even get in the door, let alone think about working again. I love this industry, so I dug deep and worked together with the A2K Media team to use this experience as motivation to make positive and progressive meaningful change.”
The future success of Australia’s film and television industry depends on its ability to be diverse and inclusive, Dr. O’Meara said.
Despite encountering prejudice and discrimination, nearly half of disabled screen workers claim that their lived experience of disability has a positive impact on their work. This includes the possibility of applying their special talents and perspectives, such as imaginative thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and empathy, to their screen work.
One disabled producer survey respondent said, “We’re bringing a perspective to the table that opens your production up to maybe new audiences; different ways of creative problem solving, different ways of working.”
Dr. O’Meara said, “Disabled people have so much to contribute to the Australian screen industry. We need greater participation of disabled workers in the industry, and we need these people to be fully included to be surrounded by colleagues and bosses who really value their contributions and will work with them in flexible ways so they can do their jobs well. The screen industry can only attract and retain the best talent if it’s accessible to disabled people.”
