When IGA manager, Terry, needed to hire a trolley collector he approached Job Match Gympie, his local Disability Employment Service provider, for free expert help.
Job Match put forward Kevin as a suitable candidate. Kevin, who has Down syndrome, was ready for a change after picking tomatoes and other produce for 18 years at Gympie’s Endeavour Farm.
Job Match started Kevin in a pre-employment program to prepare him for work with IGA.
When Kevin started work one day a week, he received support from Job Match to ensure he had the necessary customer service skills and safety knowledge to work in the busy car park.
Job Match also helped Terry get a watch with five alarms for Kevin through the Employment Assistance Fund. The watch enables Kevin to tell when to go for and come back from his breaks.
The Employment Assistance Fund is an Australian Government scheme that pays for the costs involved in modifying the workplace or purchasing special or adaptive equipment for eligible employees with disability.
Through the support from Job Match and with the help of the Employment Assistance Fund, Terry has gained an employee who always has a smile and welcome for every customer.
‘I have employed more than 20 people with disability through Job Match and the service provided by disability agencies is essential in giving people like Kevin the same opportunities as others,’ Terry said.
Now Kevin works 28 hours over a five day working week and is a valued employee.
The IGA’s owner, Derek Cornett, is impressed with Kevin’s work ethic: ‘even if Kevin is not feeling well, he still turns up to work each day’. Derek wants to employ more people with disability.
People with disability want to work and they can have lower absenteeism than other employees.
You can find out more about the benefits to your business of employing people with disability through this link:
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