Three organisations share in $765,000 in State Government funding to support people with disability to work

New funding is set to help people with disability across regional WA find a job. The State Government announced $765,000 in grant funding from the Sector Transition Fund on Thursday, which will be split between three organisations to help them with programs to get people with disability in the community into employment. Intelife and Workpower will each receive $250,000 to support their clients to explore goals and improve their skills and employability, while also working with employers to increase inclusivity in their workplaces. Good Sammy Enterprises will receive a $265,000 grant to provide disability awareness training to State Government agencies and deliver school-based traineeship programs at schools in Bunbury, Albany, Northam and Geraldton. Disability Services Minister Don Punch said there is an incredible talent pool in the disability community in regional WA. “It’s often overlooked for a whole variety of reasons,” he said. “We need to make sure that the supports are in place, the conversations are there with the business community (and) with the broader community about the great opportunities there are for employment of people with lived experience of disability.” Intelife chief executive Paul Fleay said the funding will go a long way towards helping people with disability get into employment. “The reality is despite the advances we’ve made and despite the advent of the NDIS, the disability employment figures across Australia haven’t changed in over 20 years,” he said. “We need new initiatives, we need new ideas and this funding will help go towards helping that.” Michael Allen-Williams is one of many South West residents living with disability hoping to find better work opportunities. He has studied horticulture and would like to find employment in the area of gardening. “I studied full time for several years for doing more than just raking leaves and picking up rubbish,” he said.