Each year on 3 December International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is recognised globally. The day aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.

At Ventia we employ people with a range of disabilities, from anxiety disorders to autism spectrum, to hearing impairments, amputees and other disabilities, nothing that prevents employees from performing their tasks safely.

The Ventia Operations Centre located in Parramatta employs Rebecca Teale who works as an office assistant.

I've been working for Ventia for three years, I am very busy here, everyone knows me, I work as a receptionist, I take deliveries, I collect and sort mail, I clean the whole office, I set up meeting rooms and I do all the laminating, which I love!

Rebecca says that in her job and in her life only one thing stops her "I am short so I can't reach high things!". Luckily, she has a supportive team of people around her to help. 

^{Rebecca Teale works at the Ventia Operations Centre in Parramatta and is a highly valued member of the team.}

Supportive team

Her manager Kylie Keil says, "Rebecca is amazing to work with, she comes to work with the most positive attitude, and she is constantly reminding everyone, how much she loves her job. She is always looking to upskill and is very motivated. Rebecca is a highly engaged valued member of the Ventia Operations Centre team. Rebecca is more than happy to update the team on her jam-packed social life".

Rebecca works as a permanent employee on part time hours and is further supported by her agency, Job Support, who offer ongoing assistance. 

Rebecca's mother says, "Ventia's flexibility in offering Rebecca a permanent position with part time hours means that Rebecca can fit in the other things she needs to do to live a full and successful life. She can fit in the gym and cooking and life skills classes in the afternoons leaving time to spend with her close friends that she has known since childhood on the weekends". 

"Rebecca is very independent, and her stable employment along with NDIS support means that she has started looking for her first apartment and is ready to live alone".  

^{Michael Cox, aka Mikey, works as an administration assistant  on the Aspire Schools contract}

Hard and soft facilities management for Aspire Schools

In Queensland, Ventia delivers hard and soft facility management services to seven schools through Aspire Schools, under Queensland's Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework. This includes six primary schools - BayView, Peregian Springs, Augusta, Woodlinks, Coomera Rivers and Brightwater, and one secondary school - Murrumba State Secondary College.

With the support of Disability and Social Inclusion Manager Daniel Osgood, Project Director Karen Lewis-Underhill recruited Michael Cox, aka Mikey as an administration assistant for the contract. 

"I've been impressed with Mikey's commitment to the role right from the start," Karen says. "Most recently he's been undertaking an audit of all the keys we have responsibility for, giving access to various school buildings and facilities, and our client has been really happy with the work he's doing." 

In turn, Karen is a very supportive manager, ensuring Mikey has transportation to and from work each day and providing him with opportunities to learn and grow. 

I am always happy to give opportunities to anyone that wants to learn, and Mikey certainly wants to learn. We should all consider the way that we look at recruitment and opportunities, when we look through a different lens it can be so rewarding.

Mikey loves his job and says, "it's the variety of the tasks, anything from working on spreadsheets, undertaking key audits and meeting new people is what I love, and the opportunity to just blend in". 

The Australian Government Job Access program

Earlier this year, Ventia was proud to announce a partnership with the Australian Government's Job Access program over the next 12 months. 

The partnership will help us provide a variety of career opportunities to people with disability in one of the largest essential services providers in Australia and New Zealand.

The Job Access program works with large employers to drive disability employment and build disability confidence in the workplace.