The St Vincent de Paul Society’s Ozanam Industries welcomes new supported workers

Ozanam Industries is welcoming scores of new supported workers to the fold as they onboard from CatholicCare Sydney’s Centacare factory.

Centacare is reducing its process work but all supported workers involved are being offered positions at Ozanam Industries in order to keep them together and employed.

“A huge part of supported employment for people with disability is the social aspect and Ozanam Industries is thrilled to be able to offer positions to people impacted by the changes at Centacare.

“We offer work and training tailored to each individual’s goals, this allows them to contribute to great things.

“The supported workers at Ozanam Industries recently surpassed the one million mark in assembling COVID-19 testing kits for NSW Health Pathology, for instance.

“These sorts of milestones are to be celebrated and I’m really glad we are able to provide a workplace for people with disability to participate in meaningful work,” St Vincent de Paul NSW Director of Disability and Inclusion, Terina Stibbard, said.

“CatholicCare has been providing the affected Centacare supported workers and their families with ongoing information and support to ensure no-one who wants to take the opportunity misses out,” CatholicCare General Manager, Clinical Therapies and Disability Services, Kerryn Tutt, said.

“For those who choose to take it, we will be offering comprehensive and tailored assistance to ensure the transition is facilitated as smoothly as possible.

“While we won’t be continuing with our factory work, we will still be offering our educational Work, Learn, and Connect Programs for people with disability.

“These programs are aimed at employment training, building capability to transition to open employment and life skills, day trips and community connection activities, and more.

“Our gardening and cleaning supported employment programs will also continue.

“Ozanam Industries’ workspaces are modern, large, and purpose built for people with disability and this is a really great opportunity for people with disability to access meaningful employment,” CatholicCare’s Kerryn Tutt said.

Vinnies media contact: Lachlan Jones | 0417 446 430

CatholicCare media contact: Jonathan Melrose-Rae | 0447 847 886