Message from the Minister
The Hon Luke Donnellan MP, Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers
Having a job is more than just getting a pay packet – although that in itself is no small thing. It’s also about feeling included and being a part of something.
It’s about gaining the confidence to learn new things and make a contribution within the community.
Victorians with disability want and deserve job opportunities, just like everyone else, and through our Social Procurement Framework, the Victorian Government is providing incentives that create these jobs.
From social enterprises established specifically to provide employment for people with disability, to big contractors who are now realising that being an inclusive employer and purchaser is actually good for their own culture and bottom line, social procurement is changing lives for Victorians and delivering value for the Victorian Government.
The social procurement framework creating opportunities at Knoxbrooke Yarra View Nursery
Knoxbrooke’s Yarra View Nursery is a social enterprise that provides employment for people with disability.
Knoxbrooke has won contracts to supply plants for several government projects including Mernda Rail Project, Western Program Alliance, Southern Program Alliance and North East Program Alliance.
Key highlights include:
- 5 NEW EMPLOYEES
- 10 000 ADDITIONAL HOURS IN PAID EMPLOYMENT
General Manager Scott Buckland estimates the business has added an additional five employees (year-on-year growth) and is providing an additional 10 000+ hours of paid employment year-on-year.
Yarra View Nursery now employs 115 people, 86 who are living with disability, and generates over 120 000 hours of paid employment and over 7 000 hours of accredited training each year. Knoxbrooke workers Meaghan, Terry and Leanne (front to back) prepare seedlings.
‘Victoria’s Social Procurement Framework has been critical for the growth and sustainability of Yarra View Nursery and has enabled the empowerment and development of people living with disability.’
Scott Buckland
General Manager, Knoxbrooke Enterprises
Key achievements
In the six months from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2019 Victorian Government departments and core agencies spent:
- $2.7 MILLION with 36 Australian Disability Enterprises or social enterprises led by a mission for people with disability.
- A further $1.8 MILLION was spent with 15 social enterprises identified by Map for Impact.
- Rail Infrastructure Alliance and North East Link Project recorded more than 4 000 employment hours for people with a disability.
- For rail industry skills programs in 2018-19, 14 people with disability completed the GROW and TRANSIT programs and six people with disability completed the GEN44 program.
‘Our social enterprise model provides meaningful employment opportunities. Currently more than 70 per cent of our staff are people with disability and/or from a marginalised background. This has allowed us to employ a significant proportion of our staff from Jobs Victoria program providers.’
Sam Sondhi
CEO, Outlook
Growth at Outlook Environment providing opportunities for Victorians with disability
Outlook Environmental, a social enterprise providing employment for people from disadvantaged backgrounds and Victorians with disability provides waste management services for large Victorian Government infrastructure projects, including as part of the Western Program Alliance, the Southern Program Alliance, the North West Program Alliance, as well as works for the Mernda Railway Extension and the Metro Tunnel Project.
Since 2018, Outlook Environmental has grown steadily in terms of revenue (40 per cent) and employment opportunities (30 per cent). In fact, 19 roles were generated in the 2018-19 financial year.
Over the last year, Outlook Environmental has gained further work on major infrastructure projects and has added new tier 1 construction partners as a result.
- 40% raised revenue
- 30% employment
- 19 new jobs
Reviewed 05 July 2023