NDS's BuyAbility Procurement service in Tasmania was launched yesterday by Premier Will Hodgman.

Launching the program, Premier Hodgman said, “This is a great initiative securing the future of supported employment and providing meaningful work opportunities for people who face barriers to traditional employment.”

He announced a grant of nearly $342,000 from the Tasmanian Community Fund, to see “significantly increased procurement activities in Tasmania leading to more contracts for Australian Disability Enterprises, and more jobs for people with disability.”

Donna Bain, General Manager of Australian Disability Enterprise, Self Help Workplace – which employs 50 people – also spoke at the launch. “We know that work changes lives,” Ms Bain said. “We know that work builds independence and confidence.”

“Over the last few years, NDS and the Tassie Australian Disability Enterprises have been working on ways to grow the supported employment sector,” said Ms Bain, adding that she is delighted that this ambition is “now being realised.”

Helen Bednar of the NDS’s BuyAbility Procurement team outlined the success of NDS’s procurement program to date.

“Since its inception in New South Wales in January 2011, we have worked with Australian Disability Enterprises, government and private enterprise to secure more than $22M in contracts for more than 50 Disability Enterprises, resulting in more than 950 supported employees engaged in work,” Ms Bednar said.

The addition of a Business Manager, Andrew Brain, on the ground in Tasmania means that BuyAbility Procurement can:

• Grow the commercial income sources for Australian Disability Enterprises in Tasmania allowing them to:
  • Increase employment opportunities for people with disability;
  • Strengthen their independent financial viability; and
• Improve the community's knowledge of and appreciation for the work capabilities of people with disability.

Results are already being seen, with the first contract award for BuyAbility Procurement in Tasmania, going to Start Fresh Services.

“I encourage all businesses to look at how they can work with ADEs and to consider them when undertaking procurement processes,” said Premier Hodgman at the launch.

Tasmania is home to 11 Australian Disability Enterprises, employing 450 people in total.
 

About BuyAbility

BuyAbility is an initiative of NDS designed to promote and secure a thriving supported employment sector. It has a dual focus:

• BuyAbility Procurement: NDS’s contract management service that connects public and private sector buyers to Australian Disability Enterprises resulting in socially responsible purchasing.

• BuyAbility Campaign: NDS’s communications campaign to raise awareness of supported employment amongst the business community and the general public and promote supported employment as a good and valid work choice for people with disability.

Learn more about BuyAbility here. The BuyAbility website will launch here soon.