Sydney, NSW – At Access Industries, we believe that a diverse workforce isn’t just a social responsibility; it’s a competitive advantage. We were recently featured by our partners at Haleon, the global leaders in consumer health, in an article highlighting how our collaboration is driving real business benefits through an inclusive supply chain.
For us, this partnership is a powerful validation of our mission: proving that social impact and operational excellence go hand in hand.
Bridging the Employment Gap
Since 1949, Access Industries has been dedicated to providing Australians with disability the opportunity to thrive in a supportive, high-performing work environment. The statistics in Australia today highlight why our mission remains so critical:
-
Participation Rate (Ages 15–64): Only 53.4% for people with disabilities, compared to 84.1% for those without.
-
Our Goal: As a Registered Training Organisation, we hire supported employees with the explicit goal of developing transferable skills, earning award wages, and transitioning them toward the open employment market.
By maintaining disability representation at every level, we ensure our advocacy is rooted in lived experience and genuine need.
Unique Capabilities Drive Efficiency
Haleon’s feature highlighted a truth we see on our factory floor every day: disability often fosters unique strengths.
In our packaging division, several of our vision-impaired team members consistently outperform KPIs. By leveraging heightened dexterity and tactile sensitivity, they can detect packaging nuances and issues that others might miss. These natural adaptations don’t just empower our staff; they create a more efficient, high-quality result for our customers.
“Inclusion and efficiency go hand in hand, building a supply chain that is continually developing, socially responsible, and aligned with our purpose.” — Haleon
Innovation and Measurable Impact
Our partnership with Haleon isn’t just about shared values; it’s about delivering world-class results. To better serve Haleon’s needs, we recently invested in specialised machinery to automate the boxing of cartons.
This investment has yielded incredible results for the Haleon supply chain:
-
Increased Speed: Production cycles that previously took three weeks are now completed in one week.
-
Cost Efficiency: These optimizations have delivered a 7% cost saving on Haleon’s spend.
-
Greater Reliability: Automation allows our team to filter out repetitive, time-consuming tasks and focus on quality control and high-value output.
Looking Ahead
By collaborating with forward-thinking companies like Haleon, we are proving that an inclusive business environment is a more competitive one. We are proud to help Haleon deliver “better everyday health with humanity” while continuing to strengthen the communities where our employees live and work.