A local employment agency is helping people with disabilities find work, thanks to the support of businesses in the area.

Tableland Employment Agency (TEA) is a local not for profit organisation which assists people with a disability or have barriers to employment, to find fulfilling positions in the workforce.
 
Port Douglas' Synergy Reef Sailing is one such supporter of TEA and the efforts they are making working in the disability sector.

In a recent effort to encourage local business to provide work experience and employment opportunities to TEA's clients, Synergy donated a luxury day cruise as an incentive for businesses to register with TEA.

"I think the service TEA offers is invaluable and it's important that the community works together to provide work experience and employment opportunities for those who may find it difficult otherwise," said Synergy's general manager Joni Bennett.

With almost 20 per cent of Australians having a disability, and an expected increase in this number as the population ages, the efforts of support groups such as TEA will become even more important. 

Since 1993, the labour force participation rate of people with disabilities has fallen, while the rate for people without disabilities has risen.