Official opening of Bizlink employment agency for people with diabilities

30/9/98

Disability Services Minister Paul Omodei has called on employers to help people with disabilities find meaningful employment.

Mr Omodei made the call in Joondalup today when he officially opened the new premises of Bizlink, the employment agency for people with disabilities.

Bizlink, which started in 1992 as a non-Government agency to provide post-school options for young people with disabilities, has developed into a fully-integrated employment service for all people who meet its eligibility criteria.

It has placed 62 workers in productive employment and has a further 28 job seekers on its books.

The workers have such disabilities as learning difficulties, acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, physical disabilities and hearing impairment.

"In the past, some employers have been reluctant to seriously consider people with disabilities as potentially productive employees, and to adapt the work environment," Mr Omodei said.

"They did not consider it worthwhile to make the workplace accessible or to take on people with handicaps.

"Now, thanks in large part to the efforts of Bizlink, many employers are finding that if they make that investment, the rewards are great. "They are finding on the whole that these workers are hard-working, loyal, adaptable with a well-developed work ethic and great enthusiasm for the opportunity they have been given.

"I encourage management across all fields in Western Australia to recognise the potential of people with disabilities and to join the growing ranks of true equal opportunity employers.

"Meanwhile I congratulate Bizlink on the progress it has made in enhancing the quality of life for many people with disabilities.

"It is an enterprise which has grown from the grass-roots to help make this a better community.

"And it will continue to grow as people with disabilities become more and more accepted as valued contributors to society as a whole."

Media contact: Hugh Ryan 9213 6705