SCIA - Employability
Website Redesign
Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA) runs the EmployAbility initiative, a comprehensive service supporting people with physical disabilities to find meaningful, sustainable work. The program blends tailored training, specialist coaching, inclusive recruitment, and ongoing support for both job seekers and employers.​
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Problem: The original EmployAbility website posed a variety of usability obstacles, from unclear navigation to poorly presented content on key offerings. As a result, both employers and candidates found it challenging to access helpful information or make full use of available services.
The Start
The revamp began with stakeholder interviews—including staff, partners, employers, and candidates—to pinpoint user frustrations and clarify desired improvements.
Website analytics revealed the importance of mobile accessibility, in addition to the heavy desktop use among SCIA’s users.
The Process
UX research guided the process, with steps like persona creation and mapping user journeys helping to identify pain points and opportunities.
Creative workshops (e.g., Crazy 8s) and systematic wireframing informed the new layout and clarified the most important information segments.
The Solution
The redesign delivered a modern, user-friendly, and highly accessible website separated into three core pathways: candidates, employers, and those seeking resources.
Enhanced accessibility, responsive layouts, and a focus on clarity made it far easier to engage for all users, regardless of device.
Perceived Outcome
Once launched, the new site will quickly garner positive feedback, with users reporting easier access to information and a smoother journey from discovery to action.
This improved experience directly supports SCIA’s mission: facilitating connections between inclusive employers and capable candidates.
Design Process
Core actions included developing personas, mapping unique journeys, prioritizing content, constructing wireframes, and refining through multiple rounds of prototyping with real user feedback.
Thought Process
I applied human-centered design principles, emphasizing empathy, iterative learning, and practical feasibility. Continuous test-and-learn cycles kept the project aligned with genuine user needs and realities.
User Persona
User Journey
The SCIA EmployAbility user journey begins with individuals discovering the program through online search, referral, or outreach, before easily registering their interest on a streamlined and accessible website. Users then receive personalised coaching and skill development resources, progressing toward employment with ongoing support and practical guidance, ensuring a smooth transition into inclusive workplaces.
Research included user interviews and surveys, uncovering key pain points and behavioural insights. These findings informed targeted design changes to enhance user experience and achieve business objectives.
Prototyping - Low Fi to High Fi
Starting with low-fidelity wireframes allowed rapid exploration of layout and structure. Subsequent high-fidelity interactive prototypes refined aesthetics and interactions, validated through user feedback.
Research Methodology
Carefully structured interviews and surveys, alongside an analysis of peer solutions, shaped priorities and ensured that new features were tightly aligned with real-world needs.
Powerful Impact
Clarified navigation and prominent features significantly reduced user confusion and increased confidence, fostering a sense of trust in both job seekers and organizational partners.
Main Suggestions
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Streamline navigation and reduce homepage text for clarity and accessibility.
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Add job board filters, success stories, and visible, clear calls-to-action.
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Improve accessibility with font controls, alt text, and responsive design.
Final Note
The EmployAbility website overhaul stands as a benchmark for accessible, inclusive design in the disability employment sector- delivering a solution that’s both socially impactful and grounded in diligent research and thoughtful design practice.