- Transition of Activ Foundation's worksites to Workpower now complete
- Transfer delivers certainty and ongoing job opportunities for around 600
supported employees with disability across Western Australia
- State Government is committed to
ensuring supported employees can continue to work and thrive
A new employment future
for hundreds of Western Australians with disability officially begins today,
with Workpower's acquisition of Activ Foundation's large-scale worksites now
complete.
Disability Services
Minister Don Punch visited the worksite in Bentley today to declare the
transfer to Workpower is now complete and fully operational.
The transition delivers employment
security for around 600 former employees of Activ Foundation, who faced losing
their jobs last year when the organisation announced its intention to close its
industrial worksites in WA. The closures were to commence from mid-July 2022.
In response, the State
Government provided financial assistance of $4 million to support WA-based
Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) transition Activ's supported employees
into new placements.
The Commonwealth
Government also committed $7.85 million worth of transitional grant funding to
keep Activ Foundation's worksites operational for a further 18 months to better
support the transition of employees into new placements.
A Transition Taskforce,
comprising representatives from both Governments, the Activ Action Team, the
National Disability Insurance Agency, ADEs and National Disability Services,
oversaw the transition.
In March, it was
announced that Workpower would acquire Activ Foundation's worksites, delivering
job certainty to those employees and their families.
Comments
attributed to Disability Services Minister Don Punch:
"This is a great win for people with
disability, and their families.
"The Cook Labor Government has been committed to ensuring people
with disability employed by Activ can continue to work and thrive.
"By working collaboratively with Activ, Workpower and the
Commonwealth, we have secured an outcome that delivers certainty and job
security to these employees.
"We
recognise that this has been an uncertain time for all involved and this
outcome will provide people with certainty and enable them to move forward."
Comments attributed
to Workpower CEO
Lee Broomhall:
"The
transition process has been smooth, thanks to the cooperation and goodwill of
everyone involved. We thank local, State, and Federal Governments for
supporting us throughout the transition.
"We
also thank the wonderful group of businesses, suppliers, and our new landlords
for their valuable support.
"Workpower
has operated successful and sustainable social enterprises in WA for over 30
years.
"We
look forward to bringing our experience to new locations and industries across
Western Australia, and we call upon the WA business community to contact us to
discuss opportunities to help us build sustainable employment for our
employees."
Comments attributed to Activ CEO Michael Heath:
"Activ is grateful to our
dedicated staff who worked incredibly hard alongside a number of State and
Federal Government departments, families, carers, and advocacy groups to gain
the best result for our supported employees and staff.
"We could not be happier
that all of those people impacted were able to continue their employment under
Workpower's management. We are equally grateful to Workpower for their hard
work and commitment in making this outcome possible.
"We would specifically like to thank Minister Don Punch, and Federal Ministers
Amanda Rishworthand Bill Shorten for their vital support and contribution
throughout the transition process and for their ongoing support of Activ and
Western Australians living with disability.
"We are grateful to be in a
position now where we can concentrate on the continued growth and
sustainability of our core services and supports. These include accommodation,
property care, community, education and training services and small scale supported
employment."
