A message from the CEO
17 Apr 2012
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If the hive of activity we’ve got buzzing away at WCIG is any indication, the year is already well underway. For some, it is business as usual, but for those in regional areas, yet another round of battening down the hatches is unfortunately in order. Parallel to this, the latest economic news is that some states are booming, but others are in decline—and ironically enough given nature’s recent extreme activity earlier in the year, Victoria is economically treading water too. However, sometimes it is just as important to look at the smaller things that make our world go round to keep things in perspective. This is especially true when it comes to WCIG’s work in Melbourne’s north-west regions; we need to kick off by celebrating the victories, however small, that make such a difference in people’s lives. This is what we are all about.
In March we held our bi-annual staff conference and as always, it is an opportunity to bring all staff together to look at how far we’ve come over the last two years and to celebrate our hard work and successes. More importantly we were able to come together as a group and plan for the future taking into account our present, and future, strategic directions. I’m always encouraged on occasions such as this by the genuine enthusiasm of WCIG staff and their willingness to invest in our organisational vision; full of enthusiasm and wholeheartedly committed to the task at hand.
The team at WCIG has begun the year with even more commitment and enthusiasm for changing the lives of individuals disadvantaged through unemployment, or the possibility of unemployment. Our work placement, education and training, work with young people and creation of employment opportunities through social enterprises, offer a range of responses and opportunities for all sorts of needs.
The opportunities for partnerships, goods and services for homes and businesses, and many things in between are made possible by our burgeoning social enterprises: Cleanable Property Maintenance, LoveLuvo, Open Space Maintenance and Onsite Catering. Not only are we creating and advocating equality in the workplace for people living with disability, we are giving back to our community through our skills and services.
On a final note, I am pleased to report that last month we moved our Footscray office, which was formerly situated in Nicholson Street, to a much more centrally located and modern premises in the Metro West Complex located at the corner of Albert and Paisley Streets in Footscray.
Ron Miers
CEO
