Vision Australia Axes Jobs for Disabled
7 October 2013 at 10:20 am
Vision Australia will close down its employment enterprise, Vision Australia Enterprises, leaving 71 people, some of which are blind or have low vision, out of work.
The Not for Profit says the decision comes after a six-week consultation with VAE staff, their families and unions and affects two VAE warehouses in Melbourne and Brisbane and three staff members providing braille library services in Sydney.
VAE is a supported disability employment program based in Kensington and Coorparoo and provide warehousing, pick ‘n’ pack, fulfillment and logistics services. It is expected to close in March 2014.
The organisation said no other Vision Australia offices are affected.
Vision Australia CEO Ron Hooton said the organisation could make every effort to work with each individual to assist them to find the appropriate opportunity or activity for them.
“We have always known that this decision would be very difficult because of the impact it could have,” he said.
“We acknowledge the effort that people went to, to tell us their story and individual circumstances. Vision Australia is doing everything it can to support them.”
Vision Australia says it will invest in an 18-month open employment training program, which will allow 20 paid positions to be available within Vision Australia.
The organisation said it would also provide career counselling, job search assistance, links to community activities, and counselling services, and will work with Government departments to link staff with appropriate supports.
