Disability Engagement for Inclusive Employment Pathways

Currently we employ two people with a disability for two days per week to complete hands-on jobs in our distribution centre and administrative tasks in our office space. They experience a combination of supervised jobs and jobs that are appropriately more self-directed. Our team of volunteers and staff really appreciate and enjoy their presence in the workplace as they gain experience and learn meaningful skills to help them become more job ready.

All three of our foodbanks are more than just receiving food boxes. We hold regular social gatherings where participants connect over a warm meal, a coffee, and cake. The COVID-19 season of lockdown instability definitely confirmed our initiatives for social connectedness, where, given the option to take the food box and leave, most people opted to stay and chat over a coffee - people craved connection. We also hold a weekly Champions Club engaging primary school aged children with a disability, and give over 100 volunteers the opportunity to participate in our activities.

Through our foodbank program, we have in the past identified a need in the community that targets women who may be facing disadvantage, social isolation, or are suffering from wellbeing issues. Our heart is to support people where they are at and to help them see life differently. Pre-COVID we were able to provide a second women-only foodbank timeslot so that women in our community could feel safe and have their dignity upheld through our support programs and services.