Creating employment opportunities for people with disability

A new partnership between CVGT Australia and Northeast Health Wangaratta is creating employment opportunities for people with disability.

As a result of the partnership, three CVGT clients have recently moved to permanent employment.

CVGT Australia Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer Craig Canham said the company was delighted to be working with Northeast Health to help people with disability achieve their employment goals.

“As a successful Disability Employment Services provider, our strength is our belief in our job seekers abilities and working with them to ensure they achieve their employment goals.

“We like to think that we are an enthusiastic, caring, understanding and flexible team. We offer a very personal service tailoring training and assistance to suit every individual job seeker’s needs,” Mr Canham said.

Northeast Health Wangaratta’s Director of People & Culture Avi Kumar said he firmly believed that people with a disability should be provided opportunities to enter mainstream jobs in the local community.

“NHW is committed to finding pathways for people with a disability to join the NHW team” Mr Kumar said.

CVGT Australia Disability Employment Services manager Sharon Prendergast said she was delighted to be able to work with job seekers like Tracey, Nathan and Grace to achieve their employment goals.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Tracey, Nathan and Grace to see them all now in ongoing employment.

“All three received advice on career planning, work experience, training, application letters and resumes, job interview techniques and workplace modifications (if needed). This helped our clients become work-ready and have the best chance at working on their strengths, finding the right job and staying employed.

“The team at Northeast Health have been very supportive of our clients and made a significant contribution to helping them achieve ongoing employment, Ms Prendergast said.

Tracey has profound deafness and is completely reliant on lip reading to communicate. She commenced with CVGT in January 2016 and after receiving intensive support to develop employability skills, she was placed into an administration role at Northeast Health Wangaratta’s HR/Payroll department. CVGT arranged for funding to help Tracey perform her job which provided her with an iPad and updated phone system. Tracy has now reached a six month milestone working for Northeast Health and has been offered permanent part-time employment.

Nathan has an intellectual disability. He came to CVGT in 2016 to help him prepare to transition from school into work. Nathan had studied Certificate III in Hospitality with work placement to be arranged. In December, Nathan commenced a school-based traineeship with Northeast Health Wangaratta. Through this placement, Nathan could complete his work placement hours for the Certificate III in Hospitality and also commence a Certificate III in Catering Operations. Nathan recently received a workplace award for doing a great job and demonstrating his employer’s values. He has also reached his six month milestone and been offered permanent work with Northeast Health Wangaratta.

Grace also has an intellectual disability and came to CVGT in 2016 to help her transition from school to work. Grace has been a very proactive Girl Guides and Scout member receiving a number of awards. Grace commenced a school-based traineeship at Northeast Health Wangaratta studying Certificate II in Health Services Assistance. After also achieving her six month milestone, Grace has been offered permanent employment with Northeast Health Wangaratta.

People with disability bring a range of skills, talents and abilities to the workplace. CVGT Australia’s Disability Employment Service (DES) assists job seekers with disability to gain and maintain employment in the open employment market or assistance with being self-employed.