Western Australia’s largest disability service provider, the Activ Foundation, has secured funding to keep its industrial jobs open for another 18 months, but employees’ families say it is only a temporary solution.
Key points:
- Last month Activ announced it would close seven jobs in metropolitan and regional areas in July
- State and federal funding will support the transition of Activ employees over the next 18 months
- Activ CEO Michael Heath said funding would not solve the problem, but would provide relief.
The federal government will provide $ 7.8 million to enable Activ’s workshops, which employ more than 750 people with disabilities, to remain open until the end of 2023.
The state government will provide an additional $ 4 million to support Australian Disability Companies (ADEs) in finding alternative employment for employees over the next 18 months.
It comes after Activ announced last month that funding cuts for the National Disability Insurance System (NDIS) have forced the closure of seven sites in metropolitan and regional areas, including Bentley, Osborne Park, Bunbury and Geraldton in July.
A temporary lifeline
Janette Gee, whose son Ryan works on the grading headphones at Active Bentley Warehouse for Qantas, welcomed the announcement, but said a long-term solution was needed.
“We are very relieved. One of the results we wanted was a reasonable expansion so that there could be a solution; maybe another ADE could take over the Active post,” he said.
“We need to find a sustainable solution and start treating these people as people, not marginalizing them even more.”
Janette Gee is an advocate for her son Ryan, who works at Activ. (ABC News: Tabarak Al Jrood)
Ms Gee said her confidence in Activ had been undermined.
“There’s an overwhelming sense of relief, but there’s also an overwhelming feeling that things aren’t going well yet, so there’s still anger, there’s still resentment and there’s still work to be done,” he said.
“At the moment we have no faith in the organization.
“Activ needs to develop a sustainable business model or we need to work with other ADEs who are doing the right thing.”
Amy Clark, whose brother David also works for Activ, said the funding was a temporary lifeline and left families worried about the future.
“My family and many others are still incredibly anxious about what awaits employees after Active,” he said.
“Like David, working at Activ is more than a job: it’s a community where you feel supported, understood and as if you belong to it.”
David Clark (left) and his friend Robbie Shaw have worked at Activ for 16 years. (ABC News: Rebecca Trigger)
Families fear that workers will become unemployed
In a statement, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said funding would allow for a slower transition period, giving employees more time to find new work.
“During this time, all 756 employees will be able to continue working with Activ in their duties, if they so wish, that is, they are guaranteed to continue working in the immediate future,” he said.
“Many of the supported employees have been at Activ for decades and this announcement was a significant shock to them.
“We need to put these employees first and make sure they get the support they need to manage this important transition in their lives.”
Amy Clark says her family is anxious for the future. (ABC News: Rebecca Trigger)
But Clark said that while she is grateful for the extension, finding an alternative job would be a challenge.
“In the absence of Activ offering sustainable alternatives for people with such complex and important needs, we are deeply concerned that many of these employees will be unemployed in a year, permanently losing the sense of purpose, accomplishment and connection that everyone he deserves it, regardless of his ability, “he said.
Funding will allow you to “breathe”
Activ CEO Michael Heath welcomed the announcement, describing it as a “relief” for employees.
“We’ve been working hard with the government to try to get this common sense approach to give us some space around what we need to do, so it’s great to have that support,” he said.
ACTIV CEO Michael Heath welcomed the federal government’s pledge of funding. (ABC News: Rebecca Trigger)
But Mr Heath said funding does not completely bridge the NDIS funding gap.
“It doesn’t change the fact that there is still an underlying problem with the NDIS funding model, so we still have to keep pushing on behalf of our supported employees to get some improvements in that model,” he said.
“We will still focus on our smaller, community-based businesses and our academy, but now we know we can keep our workshops open for at least 18 months and it’s great to have that certainty.”
WA Disability Services Minister Don Punch said the state government’s $ 4 million contribution would help ADEs find suitable jobs for Activ employees.
“Our $ 4 million is intended to support the industry as a whole, with a primary focus on those organizations that do not receive that $ 7.8 million from the Commonwealth government,” he said.
Posted 11 hours ago 11 hours ago dig. June 19, 2022 at 2:51 am, updated 6 hours ago dig. June 19, 2022 at 8:00 p.m.