Successful cleaning company works to model of social firms, employing people with a disability
Giving the disabled a chance
EVERYONE needs a reason to get out of bed in the morning but for years Sue Edmonstone struggled to find one. The Werribee resident was diag nosed with schizophrenia in 1996 and had been unable to find work when she was put in contact with disability services provider Westgate Community Initiatives Group. The gro'up, in turn, put her in touch with Cleanable, a cleaning company that follows the model of employment of social frrms. Social frrms are organisations set up to provide employment to people with a disability or mental illness, but are run as businesses. From 25 to 50 per cent of the workforce are made up of people with a disability or mental illness; the rest are standard employees. Miss Edmonstone has been work ing at Cleanable for the past four years. "My life has changed so much," she said. "Now I can go to parties and say I actually do something. "I'm earning a bit of money, which comes in handy, but it's not the money, it's having a place in society and being able to contribute to society. "It helps to get into a regular pat tern because you are getting up ~arly in the morning and you have ~ot somewhere to go." Miss Edmonstone said she had not ad a relapse of her illness for sev !ral years but if she were to become 11, she could be assured her job would not be in jeopardy. Cleanable general manager Peter ::Ouch said the company had dom !stic and commercial contracts, in luding contracts with Western lealth, Melbourne Health and l1ercy Health, and the company em Iloyed 48 people. The company also
• Social firms are set up to
provide Jobs for people with a
physical disability or mental
illness.
• About 25 to 50 per cent of a
social firm's workforce has a
disability or mental illness.
• The State Government has
guidelines to encourage local
governments to award
contracts to social firms.
• The Federal Government has set aside $20 million for start up capital for new social firms.
has a cleaning products shop in Seddon. "We fInd these sort of services are contracted to us because clients feel they are doing their bit to support us and at the same time we are provid ing a good service at affordable rates," Mr Couch said. "The work keeps our staff with a disability focused and they appreci ate the opportunity so much." He said two staff members had found work with mainstream companies. "We're not a training program but if we feel our staff are up to it, we encourage them into open employ ment and if it doesn't work out, they have always got a job with us to come back to," he said. To contact WCIG, phone 96893437. Phone Cleanable on 9396 1078.
Peter Couch, pictured here with worker Sue Edmonstone, runs a cleaning company which employs people with a disability. Picture: GLENN DANIELS N32WBI04