Mandurah champions employing people with a disability
The City of Mandurah has been recognised for its commitment to employing people with a disability at several award ceremonies in the past few months.
It won the Local Government Award at the 2011 National Disability Awards in November for its partnership with disability employment provider Intework.
Employment for 44 young people with a disability was created in the City of Mandurah’s operations section.
Intework helps people with a disability and their families, advocates, schools and referral agencies to ensure employees are matched to the Australian Disability Enterprise business that best suits their requirements.
Recent contract employment undertaken by Intework clients for the City of Mandurah has included fence maintenance, environmental clean-ups, skate park maintenance, gardening, sump maintenance, barbecue cleaning and maintenance, park bench repairs and site maintenance.
The City of Mandurah was also highly commended in the Local Government and Barry MacKinnon Award for Employment categories at the WA Disability Services Commission’s 2011 Count Me In Awards in December.
“The council has implemented a vast range of inclusive and diverse employment practices to support its vision of a community where everyone belongs,” Commission Director General Dr Ron Chalmers said.
“Its Disability Access Advisory Group also held the successful Fun on the Foreshore event on the 2010 International Day of People with Disability, attracting more than 1200 people, to promote access and inclusion, physical activity and local services and programs.”
The City of Mandurah’s 2011–2015 Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP), adopted by the council in August, outlines access and inclusion initiatives for people with a disability, including employment.
Mandurah Mayor Paddi Creevey said the city was one of only a few WA councils to facilitate disability employment, highlighting the DAIP as a reflection of the city’s commitment to ensuring access and inclusion in Mandurah.
“Both the DAIP, and our recognition at these disability awards, are a reflection of our continuous message that Mandurah aspires to be an inclusive city where everyone is valued.” she said.
“I’m very proud of the city’s achievements and the high access and inclusion standards we are setting at a national level.”
