Nominations open for Australian Disability Enterprise Excellence Award

The Assistant Minister for Social Services, Hon Alan Tudge MP, has today opened nominations for the Australian Disability Enterprise Excellence Award.

The Australian Disability Enterprise Excellence Award recognises employers who offer meaningful work and support to people with significant disability and showcase innovative business practices.

Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) deliver a huge range of products and services, such as printing and metal fabrication, through to catering, packaging, recycling, laundry and landscaping.

In 2015, On-Track Community Program from Tweed Heads in New South Wales won the Australian Disability Excellence Award for empowering their employees through training, support and diversifying the products they produce. This resulted in increased employment opportunities and a greater range of career pathways for people with disability.

On-Track Community Program achieves social and environmental outcomes through the RePsychlers Op Shop, which employs around 26 supported employees.

Mr Tudge said ADEs play an important role in the employment of people with disability.

“Leading Australian Disability Enterprises deserve to be recognised for the important role they play in improving the lives of Australians with disability and their families,” said Mr Tudge.

“The award is an opportunity to highlight innovation and best practice in a sector which provides quality employment and training opportunities for over 20,000 Australians with significant disability.”

“I encourage anyone who knows an outstanding ADE to nominate the service for the Excellence Award.”

The winner will be announced on 30 May 2016 at the National Disability Services’ Employment Forum in Canberra.

For more information, visit www.dss.gov.au/ade-excellence-award