Activ receives $1 million for employment services

A business service in Western Australia will receive an additional $1 million in Australian Government funding to support their disability employment services.

The Minister for Community Services, John Cobb, and the Minister for Education, Science and Training and Member for Curtin today announced the funding and presented Activ Foundation with a cheque, which will assist the business to undertake a major equipment and infrastructure upgrade.

‘As the largest organisation in Western Australia providing supported employment for people with disabilities, I am pleased to announce this funding and congratulate Activ Foundation for their ongoing success,’ Mr Cobb said.

‘Activ Foundation, which currently employees more than 900 people with disabilities through 14 outlets in Western Australia, will receive up to $8 million in Case Based Funding in 2006/07.

‘Employees work in a wide range of industries and occupations including property services, manufacturing, packaging and services to other industries such as mining and fishing.

‘The Australian Government is delivering the funding under the Business Services Assistance Package which provides practical assistance to business services, increasing their long-term viability, ability to maintain award-based wages, and skills to be self-sustaining businesses.

‘It is important people with disability are supported so they can participate in their communities and providing them with the opportunity to participate in meaningful employment is one way to encourage this,’ Mr Cobb said.

Case based funding is a fee-for-service arrangement, where fees are paid to service providers to assist job seekers with disabilities to find and keep employment.