Client Stories
Jobmatch, IGA and Kevie in successful joint effort
Many shoppers at Cornett’s IGA Gympie know the always helpful Kevie. The trolley collector is one of Jobmatch’s many success stories. When IGA approached Jobmatch for help to find a trolley collector, the employment agency saw it as an ideal opportunity for Kevin, a job seeker with Down syndrome. Store manager Peter Olsson said the business has had very positive experiences employing people with disabilities. “We currently employ about five people with disabilities through Jobmatch,” Mr Olsson said.
“We don’t create jobs for them specifically. They fill the jobs that come up just like anyone else. Then Jobmatch supports them until they find their feet or if any issues arise they help sort them out.” Jobmatch started Kevin in a pre-employment program to prepare him for work with IGA. When Kevin started work on day a week he continued to receive support from Jobmatch to ensure he had the necessary customer service skills and safety knowledge to work in the busy car park. To help Kevin tell when to go for and come back from his breaks, Jobmatch helped him get a watch with five alarms through the Workplace Modifications Scheme – an Australian Government scheme that pays for the costs involved in modifying the workplace or purchasing special or adaptive equipment for eligible employees with disability.
Now Kevin works 28 hours over a five-day working week and always has a smile and welcome for every customer. Kevin can also manage his time and this has given him independence at work. Mr Olsson said Kevin was very reliable and he would be happy to employ anyone with his work ethic. “He takes his job very seriously,” he said. “We don’t treat him differently from anyone else. We are proudly community oriented. We give everyone a fair go.”
Competitors recount of Queensland Special Olympics Team
at the 9th National Games
held in Adelaide
In June 2009 participants received a letter in the mail to notify them if they had been selected in the Queensland Special Olympics Team. The event was to be held from 19th – 24th April 2010 in Adelaide. Eighteen participants from Gympie were selected in different sporting events, which included swimming, athletics and ten pin bowling, just to name a few. Click here to read the full story
Disability Week Celebrates Success Opportunities For Job Seekeers
As Disability Action Week comes to an end, Gympie's community can rest assured disabled people in their region are cared for. A joint venture between Jobmatch, Apex and Gympie schools is helping to find long-term employment for people with a disability. Just ask Terri-Ann Welch who has been holding down a good job maintaining the grounds at James Nash State High School. Ms Welch happily takes care of the school grounds for three half-days a week and said as far as she was aware, the school was pretty happy as well. Click here to read the full story
