Forty people with disabilities graduate from Pep Employment Services courses

1/12/99
Forty people with disabilities are ready to join the workforce, following their graduation from training courses undertaken at Pep Employment Services in Victoria Park.
Employment and Training Minister Graham Kierath congratulated the graduates for reaching such an important milestone in their lives.
Graduates received certificates in Kitchen Attending, Commercial Cookery, Multi-stream Worker Automotive and Trade Assistant Metal Industry at a ceremony last night.
The Minister said there were now another 40 success stories for the vocational education and training sector.
"The students have overcome all types of barriers to take responsibility for their skills development, and to improve their chances of securing work," he said.
Mr Kierath said Pep Employment Services had worked hard to build relationships between industry and local employers to take on people with disabilities as both employees and on-the-job trainees.
"It is impressive to see how Pep has expanded over the past 18 years from an organisation helping sight impaired people," the Minister said.
"Today it is a dynamic and multi-disciplined group that can meet the needs of people with physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, Acquired Brain Injury and learning disabilities."
The Minister said funding and assistance from the Department of Training and Employment played a crucial role in supporting organisations such as Pep Employment Services.
"It is widely acknowledged that people with disabilities are under-represented in vocational education and training and employment," he said.
"Fifteen per cent of the population has a disability, but only 3.5 per cent of the people undergoing vocational education and training report a disability.
"The vision of the Department of Training and Employment is a secure future for all Western Australians through training, skills and jobs.
"That means the department is highly committed to getting as many people with disabilities into the workforce as possible.
"The department's Building Diversity framework focuses on people in the community, including people with disabilities, who are looking for additional or different programs and services so they can make the most of their vocational education and training, and employment opportunities.
"Building Diversity is based on recognition that Western Australia's future prosperity rests on its ability to harness the skills and talents of each member of its diverse community."
Media contact: Mike Groves (08) 9213 6400