Empowered to thrive in an inclusive environment

Published on 14 October 2024

Ben Pilipowski, who has an intellectual disability, has been employed by City of Ryde as the Community Development Project Administrator within the Community Services team for the last four months.

Ben brings a wealth of experience, passion, and a unique perspective to his role. He has a Bachelor’s degree in social work from Western Sydney University and qualifications in mental health, alcohol and drug addiction, and youth work. Before joining City of Ryde, Ben worked in youth mental health and disability services.

Ben found applying for a job at the City of Ryde easy as the job description was written in plain English and available in an Easy Read version. Ben was also sent the interview questions two days in advance to help him prepare as those with an intellectual disability can find interviews very stressful and even when they know the right answers, it can be hard to express them.

Ben was given the opportunity to call with any questions he had about the interview and the job itself and was given the option to bring a family member or carer to the interview if preferred. Setting clear instructions on how to get to the interview, process for the interview was an approach that helped Ben’s anxiety and allowed him to focus on communicating his abilities.

Ben has been working on projects and events, like Mental Health Month and he helps the community services team with administration tasks. He is also key in giving feedback and checking documents, flyers, and webpages to make sure they’re easy to read, plus helps out at community events and has been given the task of contacting our volunteers with disabilities to tell them about upcoming events.

Ben said the support he receives at the City of Ryde is incredible.

“My team gives me the space and assistance I need to do my job well, which is important since this is my first time working for a council. They also respect my work-life balance by encouraging me to take regular breaks and offering flexible working hours.

I’ve also had the chance to meet and connect with a lot of people, both in the community and across the council. It’s been a great experience so far, and I feel like I’m part of something important.”

Ben has made a valuable contribution to the City of Ryde we would like to encourage all councils in NSW to open their doors to people with disability, especially those with intellectual disability. They have a lot of skills to offer, but need the opportunity to showcase what they can do.

Through a thoughtful, inclusive approach to recruitment and by providing ongoing, expert support, we are helping build careers and change lives. Ben’s success in his role as Community Development Project Administrator is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when everyone is given the opportunity to shine.

Read Ben’s full interview with Local Government NSW here.