How Hotel Housekeeping is a Wonderful Job for People with an Intellectual Disability
At ahs hospitality, people are at the heart of everything we do. We champion diversity and employ wonderful hard-working people regardless of their disability, background or circumstance.
Recently we hired our first candidate, Yuwie, from Barkuma, a specialist Disability Employment Service provider that operates in Adelaide and works with people with a disability – including Intellectual Disability, Learning Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome, to support them in finding and securing long term work.
We had a chat with Devi, our Housekeeping Manager from one of our contracted hotels in South Australia to learn about ahs hospitality’s involvement with Barkuma, the importance of diverse hiring within hospitality and how ahs hospitality creates a positive and safe environment for people like Yuwie to be happy and successful in their roles.
ahs hospitality: What inspired ahs hospitality’s partnership with Barkuma?
Devi: This project is a result of a government grant to Flinders University here in Adelaide where the university created a diversity employment pathways program for people with intellectual disabilities to have the opportunity to work in the hospitality and retail space. They partnered with many disability providers like Barkuma to provide work opportunities.
I, along with selected other hospitality and retail senior managers in Adelaide were approached to participate in the program. I thought it was a fantastic opportunity and another way for our business to highlight that we champion our diverse hiring so I asked our Managing Director, Leanne Graham, if the business would participate. With approval to proceed, I have since been highly active in taking the lead in ahs hospitality’s participation within the program by developing housekeeping roles that a person with an intellectual disability will feel supported, comfortable and thrive in. These discussions begun in 2023 where we were initially identifying a task that someone with an intellectual disability could perform systematically.
ahs hospitality: ahs hospitality champions diverse hiring. How important do you believe is it to provide employment opportunities in the hotel hospitality industry for people with disability?
Devi: It’s fantastic that at ahs hospitality, everyone receives an equal employment opportunity. I believe that every team should have at least 2 diverse workers - they bring so much harmony to the team and become a good example for other team members. These workers do every task with care and passion and are appreciative of having a job.
ahs hospitality: We have recently employed our first candidate through Barkuma – what was that like and how well have they settled into the job and within the housekeeping team?
Devi: Yuwie joined the team last month after completing two successful trial shifts and he was assisted by a support person at Barkuma, along with myself. I am happy to report that he is incredibly happy, settling in well and is enjoying his regular morning shifts as a linen runner where he works closely with the Houseman 3 days a week. His tasks are to empty the linen cages, take them up to the floors and then tidy the shelves. Yuwie completes this task as outlined within his scope of works, and he absolutely loves it.
What makes him happy is his new routine, he can finish the task and that he loves the workplace and people. Other workers, including the hotel General Manager at the hotel are very welcoming and supportive of him and comment on his happy and positive energy. He is affectionately known as the ‘happy chap’ at the hotel - we all think he is the happiest linen runner in Australia!
ahs hospitality: What do you think makes hotel housekeeping a great and rewarding job for people with disability?
Devi: In housekeeping there are tasks that are systematic and routine which is good for people with intellectual disability. And in the hospitality space you often see a diverse workforce where you can learn from each other. In hotel housekeeping we are all about that as well as always looking for loyal appreciative workers who want to learn new skills and contribute to something bigger.
ahs hospitality: What makes ahs hospitality a supportive employer for people with disability?
Devi: At ahs hospitality we work with many job service providers to give people regardless of their disability, background, or circumstance housekeeping opportunities. We will identify or create a role that they will thrive in as well as complements the team in achieving our goals and targets. We love creating a positive culture where everyone feels like they belong in the team.
ahs hospitality: Are we looking into employing more candidates through Barkuma?
Devi: Yes we are! I am currently looking at other tasks that people with intellectual disabilities can do where they can confidently execute quality work and productivity such as cleaning pantries and vacuuming floors. Yuwie’s excellent work is a great example of someone with an intellectual disability who is working really well with our housekeeping team at our hotel in Adelaide – he is a great asset, and we love having him on the team!
