Employer Stories


Cornetts Supa IGA, Gympie.

The team at Cornetts Supa IGA Gympie believe in investing in the training of people with a disability, to help them succeed as members of the local workforce. Store manager Terry Schiffke said this commitment to employ people with a disability where possible had been rewarding for the business. The supermarket employs about 170 full-time, part-time and casual staff, of which 10 have a disability.

“When a position becomes vacant within our store we look to see whether it can be filled with a person who may have a disability,” Mr Schiffke said. “I believe that we, as a business, have an obligation to support and develop people with a disability as they can be an integral part of our business and community. We work very closely with Jobmatch Employment to recruit, support and develop those with a disability.” This alliance began more than six years ago and Mr Schiffke said IGA had developed an excellent rapport with the employment agency.

He said some of the staff employed with a disability had never held a paid job before, and some have worked so hard that they have been made permanent or permanent part-time. Of the 10 staff, four have been with IGA for five years, one had given seven years’ service and one had been a part of the team for three years. “Their retention rate is high because of their effort to do the best they can,” Mr Schiffke said. “Becoming accepted as valuable employees gives these staff members a sense of independence and pride, and by earning an income they are less reliant on government support.”
Coles, Gympie. Coles Gympie has always supported employing team members with disabilities and currently has five staff employed in Gympie. “We don’t see them as employees with a disability, we see them as valued team members,” store manager Jason Smith said. Three of these team members have given more than 10 years of service to Coles, and one has just celebrated 15 years with the company, during which time the roles and skills have changed and increased. “We work with the Gympie special school and Jobmatch to have work experience and work trials to be able to assess what capabilities their clients and school students offer in the work place,” Mr Smith Said.
Coles, Gympie. Staff with disabilities, employed at Gympie Regional Council, have proved reliable and trustworthy, and many have developed beyond expectations, council CEO Ken Mason said. He said the local government authority had been a strong supporter of people with a disability in employment. The current GRC employs seven people through Jobmatch, and also employs many other people with a disability who do not need support through that agency. “These people are employed in a variety of jobs with many on full award wages, while a small number are paid at an assessed productivity rate,” Mr Mason said. These positions include the library, parks and gardens, works and services and in the mechanical workshop.