IKEA Australia launches first Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Around 1 in 5 Australians identify as persons with disabilities and around 9 million Aussie households include persons with disabilities. While some disabilities are visible, many are not, including some mental, intellectual, sensory and other disabilities that cannot be easily perceived.

At IKEA, equality and inclusivity are at the heart of caring for people and togetherness – just two of our key values. As a humanistic, values-led company, we believe in creating a better life for the many.

Our aim is for IKEA to be inclusive for everyone: co-workers, visitors, customers. That means ensuring our buildings and workplace culture are welcoming, inclusive and accessible for our customers and co-workers with disabilities.

The IKEA Australia Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) is our commitment to creating a more equal world for people with disability. It aims to enhance the culture, environment, systems, products and services at IKEA Australia to improve access and inclusion for people with disabilities, including our co-workers, our customers and our community.  ​

This plan outlines our commitment to breaking down barriers and enhancing the experiences of our customers, co-workers and communities. By working together, we can build a more inclusive society where everyone feels valued and empowered.​ It will also support us to better reflect the communities we serve. Celebrating diversity in all its forms is part of creating a vibrant and inclusive place to work; where everyone can bring their whole selves to work.

To inform the actions in the DIAP, IKEA Australia consulted with co-workers and customers, with over 1000 survey responses received. 

Using this information, a working group collaborated with key leaders across the business to identify practical and meaningful actions to develop the plan, in consultation with the Australian Network on Disability.

IKEA Australia Sustainability Manager Renea Robson says, ‘Being an inclusive business and promoting equality are key commitments of our sustainability strategy. I am a proud advocate of our commitment to positive change across our business for persons with disabilities and their carers. Our action plan is our roadmap to advancing disability inclusion to support the long-term wellbeing of IKEA co-workers and customers now and for future generations.’

The IKEA Australia disability inclusion approach prioritises three action areas:

Customers – making the customer experience more accessible for people with disability

Co-workers – moving towards a disability inclusive culture where everyone is respected, acknowledged and heard.

Communities – creating a more equal word by advocating for people with disability.

For customers, we’re focusing on improving the in-store and remote customer experience and physical accessibility. Actions focus on creating consistency across all stores, for example with welcoming support animals, quiet shopping experiences and wheelchair trolleys.

Our co-worker actions focus on education and training, and an inclusive recruitment approach and culture. This means ensuring all co-workers are equipped and empowered to support customers with disabilities in an inclusive way, identifying quiet spaces in co-worker areas and ensuring all line managers are trained in mental health first aid.

Our approach will go beyond customers and co-workers to ensure we are a force for good in society. This focus on communities is our commitment to advocate for persons with disabilities and create a more inclusive world. To support this, we will create meaningful partnerships with peak bodies and organisations, implement Unstereotype Alliance principles into our media and advertising to help remove harmful stereotypes, and embed the consideration of disability as part of our procurement strategy.