A long-standing partnership between Optus Stadium and the Hospitality Disability Network WA (HDNWA), a not-for-profit, industry-led organisation that connects people with disabilities to sustainable jobs in the hospitality and tourism sectors, is continuing to flourish, with more than 150 people placed into roles since its inception.

This week, another 47 HDNWA candidates from a number of employment provides were involved in the partnership’s biggest recruitment drive yet, experiencing a stadium tour and one-on-one interviews for roles in hospitality, event operations, customer service and food and beverage teams.

Optus Stadium General Manager Food & Beverage Craig Menzies has been an active HDNWA board member since 2019 and the Chairperson since 2022.

“Our team is passionate about demonstrating how the hospitality industry can find opportunities to build sustainable careers for people living with disability which is why we came on board as a founding member and cornerstone partner of HDNWA,” Mr Menzies said.

“I’m really proud that Optus Stadium has become a national leader in inclusive employment, setting the benchmark for what genuine workplace inclusion looks like in large-scale operations, demonstrated by many of these employees developing lasting careers within our venue.

“The benefits to our team and business are clear.”

HDNWA Managing Director Marnie Howell said many businesses in hospitality and tourism genuinely wanted to be more inclusive but often found the disability employment system confusing and difficult to navigate. The success of HDNWA was a result of its industry-led, partnership-driven model, bringing together employers, disability employment services, schools and government partners to create structured pathways into employment within the hospitality and tourism sector.

“From the outset, Optus Stadium has demonstrated a genuine commitment to inclusive employment within a mainstream, high performing venue environment,” Ms Howell said.

“HDNWA works closely with VenuesLive to provide ongoing training, mentoring and placement coordination to ensure sustainable outcomes.

“The success of this partnership lies in the culture of inclusion and support championed by the Optus Stadium team, where every staff member is valued and supported to succeed.

Optus Stadium staff also feature in a new toolkit designed to inspire the next generation of workers in hospitality and tourism by connecting students, schools and employers through practical training and inclusive workplaces.

“Day in the Life” videos filmed at the stadium help give students a taste of what different hospitality and tourism roles look like in action.

CLICK HERE for more information.