New business model brings fair chance to work

Featured:

• Rob Thomas, Wallara employee
• Phil Hayes-Brown, Chief Executive of Wallarah
• Jess Moore, Chief Executive of Social Enterprise Australia

Transcript:

One of the big issues facing people with disabilities is getting a fair chance to enter the workforce and is often a similar story for refugees and other disadvantaged groups. But as David Sparkes reports, businesses that deliver their benefits directly to the community rather than shareholders or owners, they’re known as social enterprises. They're producing some good results. Getting a job done is a feeling most people enjoy, and Rob Thomas is no exception. Working on the grounds of Monash University of Melbourne, he enjoys being part of a team.

RT “We go around and make sure the area is clean, so my job is to supervise and make sure you know they are doing a good job and anything they miss I say -hey, you miss some, you need to go back and get it-? but yeah. Thursdays and Fridays in the factory, driving the Wallara truck.”

But Rob Thomas has found it hard to find work in the past. The 50 year old has dyslexia and it affected his learning but things changed when he went for an interview with his current employer.?

RT “I've been giving a chance to prove myself here. I can really, shine. Where my skill level, I'm actually testing my own skill levels. Where they're not testing it for me, and they've allowed me to do it”

He works for a disability service provider called Wallara. It works with about 500 adults to build their skills and independence. It's also known as a social enterprise. A business that uses its profits for a social or community cause. Wallara Chief Executive Phil Hayes says the company contracts to a number of sectors including for the work Rob Thomas does at Monash University, but also in warehousing, where it employs people with disabilities.

PHB “We’re in supply chains, David, across the country no one knows about. You know usually, and my line is, if you walk down the aisle of Bunnings, Coles or Woolies, there are thousands of products on those shelves that are touched, packaged, assembled by someone with a disability and nobody knows and I think that's been a real shame, and needs to change.”

Social enterprises are a rising phenomenon in Australia and are run for different purposes such as supporting domestic violence survivors or helping refugees use their skills in meaningful employment. Jess Moore is Chief Executive of Social Enterprise Australia, the industry's peak body.

JM “A social enterprise is a business, for good. So, they trade like any other business, but exist specifically to make the world a better place. So these are businesses that innovate using a compass of public benefit and I think for most people, they're familiar with social enterprises creating employment opportunities for people most shut out of work”

Right, so how big is this thing across Australia right now?

JM "Look, we know based on estimates, that there are about 12,000 social enterprises in Australia. We really want to work with the Federal Government to capture better and stronger sector data to get not just an estimate but a count."

The recent federal budget brought in new measures to boost social enterprises including a $100 million outcomes fund. Jess Moore believes that is a big step for the sector.

JM "For example if you are a social enterprise set up to create jobs for people most shut out of work, you may have a range of expenses: initial engagement of that person, helping ensure there’s wrap around support so that person has the best chance of success in the labour market and if you can then get an outcome payment for helping that person go from unemployed, to employed, that can help you cover your impact cost. So really, we see outcome payments as a key way to unlock growth in the sector."

In a statement to the ABC, the Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth says the new measures in the budget create innovative ways to tackle disadvantage; she says they’ll drive market demand for, and encourage investment in, the work done by social enterprises.

Audio interview here.

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