Recognising Excellence in Australian Disability Enterprises

I am delighted to announce that this year’s winner of the Australian Disability Enterprises Excellence Award is Mambourin Enterprises.

Mambourin Enterprises employs around 60 people with disability through its packaging and gardening services businesses. It seeks to achieve its slogan ‘Empowering People’ by increasing the skills and knowledge of its employees through training, support and experience.

Mambourin Enterprises implemented a leadership programme last year, and graduates experience career progression through team leader roles in the workplace and independent work activities offsite at customer locations.

I am also pleased to announce the runners-up – Mylestones Printing and Aware Industries.

First runner-up Mylestones Printing employs over 40 people with disability, and delivers a range of digital printing services as well as mail and document assembly.

All training at Mylestones Printing provides supported employees with the skills, knowledge and confidence to increase their workplace responsibilities and aspirations, and to excel within their positions. More than half of its employees have completed a Certificate II in Business.

Second runner-up Aware Industries offers a range of services within the Albury/Wodonga region including finishing and packaging food services, light engineering, warehousing, paper recycling, assembly and mail house services.

It employs 115 people with disability and offers accredited training programmes in hospitality, warehousing and engineering at the Certificate III level, together with a successful leadership programme for supported employees.

Aware Industries’ Australia-wide customer base demonstrates its ability to operate as a sustainable and commercially viable business.

The Australian Disability Enterprises Excellence Award recognises efforts to improve the lives of people with disability by providing dignity through employment and access to work.

The winner and runners-up have demonstrated the dual focus of enterprises as both viable businesses and quality employers of people with disability.

These organisations provide best practice and innovative training opportunities that lead to high quality and sustainable employment. They have also achieved premium employment conditions for their employees.