$750,000 ‘laundered’ for social enterprise business

By Samantha Elley

“We are loving each other back to life.”

These were the words of Mel Sass, an employee of Beacon Laundry, which officially opened last week when visited by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Mel is one of 75 employees whose life had taken a turn for the worst due to declining mental health and a drug and alcohol addiction.

“In 48 hours I lost my job, my wife and I drove 3,000km to the Northern Rivers and a recovery program,” she said.

“I had only $50 in my pocket when I heard about Beacon Laundry.

“I used my last $50 to put petrol in the car and threw my hat in the ring (for a job) to find the process was so simple.

“The team here met me where I was at and I am now six months and 25 days sober.”

Beacon Laundry in Bangalow is an operational, commercial scale social enterprise laundry providing job and development opportunities (including transition to mainstream employment) for disadvantaged people within the community.

Thanks to a $750,000 injection by the Federal Government, the project was an election commitment by the Labor party.

“We know that social enterprises do amazing work in creating and providing meaningful opportunities for more disadvantaged Australians to access the workforce,” said PM Albanese.

“It is a privilege to be invited to visit and officially open the Bangalow Social Enterprise Laundry on the North Coast.”

Father and daughter team, Steve and Shanti Torrens, had lost everything in the 2022 floods when their homes on Cabbage Tree Island were inundated.

“We are still living in emergency accommodation,” said Shanti.

Since joining Beacon

Laundry, Steve has been doing the truck driving while Shanti does laundry processing.

“The people here are great,” said Steve. “They give everybody a go.”

Beacon Laundry CEO, Luke Terry said the purpose behind the business was to create jobs for people who want to get back to work, but for various reasons, whether homelessness, addiction or mental health, are finding it difficult to be employed in the mainstream.

“There is also a need at the moment for laundry services in the local area,” he said.

“Businesses are sending their laundry to Coffs Harbour or the Tweed.”

Now, according to Mr Terry, some of the major hotels in the area are using Beacon Laundry and keeping jobs local.

“We have Elements of Byron Bay, Byron Bay holiday hire and Sunseeker using our services and they get a top quality product,” he said.

“We are currently doing 30 tonnes a week but are planning for two to three times more than that.”

Boosting Child Education: Kyogle and Federal Communities Gain from Fresh Initiative

Kyogle and Federal are gearing up to enhance support for working families through expanded access to early childhood education and care, thanks to a new $20-million initiative known as the Flexible Initiatives Trial (FIT). This program aims to tackle the obstacles faced by parents, particularly women, in joining the workforce by empowering early childhood services to tailor their offerings and hours to suit local community needs.

Among the 16 grant recipients announced in the first round of successful applicants, Kyogle’s Bundgeam Preschool and the Federal Community Children’s Centre in the Byron Shire hinterland stand out as local beneficiaries. State Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, expressed satisfaction with the inclusion of these services, emphasizing the dedication of their educators and the positive impact the trial will have on the surrounding communities.

Ms. Saffin also highlighted the broader regional impact, noting that Yamba Early Learning Centre and Clarence Community Preschool in Grafton will also benefit from the program. For instance, the Grafton service will introduce weekend operations, catering to families’ needs beyond the usual weekday schedule.

The family-friendly enhancements offered through the FIT program include extending operating hours, flexible drop-off and pick-up times, options for occasional or ad hoc care, establishment of new family day care services in remote areas, and collaborations between different service types to provide comprehensive care.

This initiative is part of the NSW Labor Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting children and young families, exemplified by the unprecedented $769 million investment to construct 100 new public preschools across the state. Additionally, $60 million has been allocated to build and upgrade preschools in 50 non-government schools, focusing on areas with the greatest need, along with $17 million for capital works in early childhood services.

Furthermore, the NSW Government is actively bolstering the early childhood workforce through a significant scholarship program, attracting a record number of applicants.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car, emphasized the importance of early childhood education in laying strong educational foundations for every child in NSW. She underscored that the FIT program enables existing services to adapt and expand their offerings, catering to the diverse needs of local communities and fostering positive outcomes for both parents and young learners.

Services to receive Grants are: Bundgeam Preschool, Kyogle; Federal Community Children’s Centre, Federal Little Genius Cottage, Chifey; Yamba Early Learning Centre, Yamba; Clarence Community Preschool, Grafton: