The new NSW Government offices at 4 Parramatta Square are a hive of activity this week as disability support organisations assist with the moving in of equipment.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, and Member for Parramatta, Geoff Lee is supporting jobs for people with disabilities.
“Today is International Day of People with Disability so it’s fantastic to be able to support disability organisations while getting terrific support ourselves to make the move to Parramatta a smooth one,” Minister Pavey said.
The department has partnered with peak body National Disability Services to arrange work contracts with a number of disability service organisations.
Two disability organisations, Civic Disability Services and Achieve Australia, have been hired to provide 26 supported workers to help the department move equipment into 4 Parramatta Square under what we’re calling the ‘Lending Hands’ contract.
Workers with disabilities are helping unpack and install equipment including stationary cabinets and lockers, first aid kits, defibrillators, sanitiser wipe dispensers, and crockery, cutlery and other appliances.
The department has also signed a six-month contract with Wise Employment which trades as Clean Force to clean work spaces in the new building starting mid-December. This will employ another 15 people who have disabilities or are facing disadvantage.
National Disability Services CEO David Moody said the NSW Government was showing great leadership in social procurement.
The NSW Government through social procurement is getting great service and value for money while providing employment and skills opportunities for people with disabilities. We look forward to other jurisdictions including federally doing the same.
National Disability Services’ BuyAbility Procurement Service supports all types of organisations to procure goods and services from disability enterprises. To date it has supported over $40 million in contracts providing jobs for over 1,700 people.
Civic Disability Services CEO Annie Doyle said the partnership helped deliver innovative services and create transformative lifestyles for its clients.
“Partnerships such as this one gives individuals living with disability the chance to participate, which has a positive impact not only on their own health and wellbeing, but on that of their families and their community,” Dr Lee said.
The completion of 4 Parramatta Square will see 65,000m2 of space in the heart of Parramatta accommodating over 5,000 public servants from multiple locations and departments who will relocate there in coming months.
