Ashfield Municipal Council in NSW, along with a local health service provider, has received a state award for its unique job training program focused on providing employment for people with disabilities.
The Job Training Program, conducted by Council’s Department of Community Services in conjunction with Supported Living, Ashfield, was acknowledged with a Mental Health Award in October. Under the program, Council and Supported Living provide employment training and opportunities to adults with a mental illness living in local licensed boarding houses.
Since the program commenced one year ago, Council has provided permanent employment for seven people, with one man employed to maintain Council’s community notice boards and another employed to maintain the bus shelters in Hercules and Brown Streets, Ashfield.
A third person commenced work in August to ensure all Council’s community centres and facilities are supplied with fresh tea towels, linen and kitchen supplies each week. Four people are also employed by Council to maintain planter boxes in Station Street, Ashfield, on a weekly basis. These planter boxes were built last year by a team of licensed boarding house residents under Council’s Street Beautification Project.
The Mental Health Awards are conducted annually by the Mental Health Association of NSW in conjunction with Mental Health Week. These statewide awards recognise organisations that promote a positive image of mental health and/or initiatives that assist to prevent mental illness.
For further information, contact Janine Fullin on (02) 9716 1842.
