2 December
Enable NZ wins 2004 mainstream employer award
State Services Minister Trevor Mallard today announced that Enable New Zealand Palmerston North is the winner of the
2004 Mainstream Employer of the Year Award.
The awards are presented annually in recognition of employers who have supported employment, training and career
development opportunities for people with significant disabilities.
Trevor Mallard said the Mainstream Programme operates in line with United Nations’ objectives for the employment of
people with disabilities, as well as the Government’s own Disability Strategy goals.
”The State Services Commission has provided the Mainstream Programme as a first step on the career ladder for hundreds
of people with significant disabilities, over many years.
“Mainstream bridges the chasm that is long term unemployment, for those people with significant disabilities who are
unable to gain employment on merit.
”This scheme is unique. Nowhere else in the world does there exist a programme which deliberately seeks to assist those
most disadvantaged by significant disability that is provided by, and for, the state sector. Mainstream currently
supports over 200 participants working in State sector positions throughout New Zealand.”
”Enable New Zealand have gone the extra mile to provide a supported employment situation for a woman with significant
disability issues,” Trevor Mallard said.
Enable New Zealand employee nominee Julie Cravino said “my employer supports training and development of staff with
disabilities, encouraging us to develop, and aspire to be team leaders of the future. It is one thing to hire people
with disabilities, but quite another to urge those same staff to train for management.”
The runner-up for this year’s Employer of the Year award was ACC Palmerston North. Merit awards were awarded to Cosgrove
School, Papakura, and Work and Income, Whangarei at the ceremony held in the Beehive today.
ENDS