ACTIV
FOUNDATION — LARGE-SCALE INDUSTRIAL WORKSITE CLOSURES
601. Mr H.T. JONES to the Minister for Disability Services:
I refer to Activ Foundation's
decision to close its large-scale worksites over the next 18 months, including
the Bentley workshop where my son works.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how the state government is helping employees
affected by this decision to find alternative opportunities in similar environments?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the government is supporting alternative Western Australian
disability enterprises during this
transition period, including in developing new employment opportunities?
Mr D.T.
PUNCH replied:
I thank the
member for his question and I acknowledge his personal interest in this matter.
(1)–(2) It
was only in May that Activ advised that it had made a business decision to
cease providing large-scale employment opportunities for its 750 workers—which
for some has been a lifetime commitment—giving them very little notice
that they were going to be out of a job.
This government immediately acted in
three ways, members. First, at the request of the McGowan government, the new
federal Labor government acted quickly to provide a financial incentive for
Activ to continue to maintain those workshops for 18 months, thereby providing
valuable time for those workers to adjust and
to look at new opportunities, together with their families and carers. That is
the value of the incoming federal Labor government, because the previous
government had put this whole issue in the too-hard basket and was not prepared
to deal with it. That is what Labor governments do, member for Darling Range.
The second response was that in
addition to that funding, the McGowan government and the new Labor federal government worked together to establish a transitional
task force to guide and oversee the transition of Activ Foundation's
supported employees into new opportunities. The task force has met a number of times and, most recently, had a workshop in
September. It includes family members of the Activ Foundation who are
part of the Activ Advocacy Action Team. They represent a strong voice for
supported employees and their broader
networks. The task force is working to provide support to all affected
employees and their families, especially looking at alternative options.
Those options may include supported accommodation with another Australian
disability enterprise, opening employment opportunities. It has been great to
see employers step forward and look at offering opportunities. For some, the
alternative opportunities may just be to remain connected with friends and
social groups as a priority as they near retirement age. The important thing is
that that task force ensures a strong voice for people with lived experience of
disability as the Activ Foundation transition continues.
The third part of the McGowan
government's response has been to provide $4 million to other local
ADEs to help build capacity, develop contemporary service models and create
work opportunities. That is so important because 750 employees are suddenly
looking for new opportunities. We have to make sure the capability sits there
within our remaining ADEs to be able to absorb those people who want to
continue in that form of employment and
assist them to look at other opportunities in terms of contracts and business
continuity to provide those opportunities. As part of that funding, grants of
up to $100 000 were recently provided to
other Western Australian ADEs to assist that transition as a first step. Those
grants are the first instalment. They will be used to help develop
information about their workplaces and the opportunities available, and enable them to provide dedicated
points of contact for affected Activ Foundation employees and their
families.
I had the great privilege to have a chat
with one of those employees in the member for Morley's electorate who
had found new opportunities within the workforce. The joy that that person had
in being able to move into another workforce—working in a nursery and
feeling valued and feeling that they were making a contribution—was
very significant. That is what this means to those Activ employees. It was a lovely
experience to share. Our aim as a government is to make sure that every one of
those employees can have a similar experience, adapting to a new opportunity of
their choosing. Thank you very much, member, for the question.