Apprenticeships, Employment & Training Provider | VERTO
VERTO is an award winning, not-for-profit organisation assisting businesses and individuals with all their apprenticeship, employment and training needs. Our expertise covers a range of areas including Aboriginal services, Australian apprenticeships services, disability services, employment services and vocational training to help businesses, individuals and local industry to thrive. Our mission is to positively impact the lives of individuals and communities and we’ve built a track record of exemplary customer service over 35 years, built around an ethical approach.You'll find the team in over 40 locations across New South Wales.
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Why disability employment works for everyone
By Ron Maxwell - CEO
With a long history of working in employment services, I've witnessed first-hand the many benefits of employment for people with disability – for both the job seeker and the employer. Recently, we've seen a spate of good news stories about VERTO clients and employers building mutually rewarding partnerships, and it’s something we need to put front and centre.
Disability employment works on so many levels. Employers benefit from a capable, loyal and hard-working team member, and the job seeker from increased confidence, financial independence, and greater self-worth. Despite this, some Australian employers remain reticent to hire people with disability, and the unemployment rate for job seekers with a disability is twice the national average.
Education is key
For me, much of this comes down to misconceptions about how, why and what a business can expect from hiring a person with a disability. Australians with disability make up around 18 per cent of the population, (around 4.3 million people), and of these, one million are working age and employed or looking for employment. It's time to start a conversation, break down some of the misconceptions and focus on the many positive outcomes
A common misconception I hear is that hiring someone with a disability will be expensive. There is often a misunderstanding that it will always involve extensive access modifications, investment in new hardware or software, or a significant change to the workplace. It’s simply not true. Disabilities vary in type and severity, and often require minimal modifications or changes to workplaces that are barely noticeable. Additionally, where modifications are required, employers can often access government funding to make the necessary adjustments.
Employers who are willing to invest just a little time into finding the right employee will reap the rewards. Contrary to another popular misconception, employees with a disability do not need more sick leave than any other employee. In fact, research shows the opposite; employees with a disability take less time off work than those without one. The same research also indicates that people with a disability connect well with customers, boost overall team morale, and perform as well as every other employee. Recently, we asked some of our Disability Employment Services clients what they would say to employers who are thinking about hiring someone with a disability, and you can watch the video here.
It's about finding the right fit
The key when it comes to disability employment, and the reason VERTO has so many success stories, lies in matching the right job seeker with the right employer. It's critical to assess the needs and interests of the job seeker, look at any barriers that may exist, and create an individual plan to overcome them.
Our team, who are disability employment specialists (and more importantly, incredibly passionate about what they do), really focus on this. In fact, last year the team won the Open Employment Award at the National Disability Employment Excellence Awards, after being nominated by a job seeker who found long-term employment and a new passion working at a winery.
Making sure there is a great fit will ensure there is a sustainable and mutually-beneficial relationship. This is important from a business standpoint, and if an employee remains in the job for 12 months, there are also extra financial incentives on offer. Of course, our goal from the start is to place our job seekers with disability in positions where they will work for many years.
Sustainable employment builds self-worth
For individuals, finding long-term employment in a job that matches their interests and abilities will build confidence and a stronger sense of self-worth, as well as contributing to financial independence. Sometimes this is about reskilling; for example, for someone who has worked in a trade but due to an injury or accident now has a physical restriction, it might be about reskilling them to work in admin in the same industry, working in with their existing interests and knowledge, but in a new way.
We work with people on an individual level to find the training and employment solutions that best fit them. It's not about ticking a box; the right employment can be life changing. One recent example that comes to mind is the story of Kerri, who due to her medical conditions, struggled to find employment. We were able to not only match Kerri with a suitable job, but also develop her confidence to succeed at interview and in the workplace more generally. Kerri credits the role with giving her purpose, reducing bill stress, and helping her to be a positive role model for her son. It really is about so much more than just a job.
At the end of the day, ensuring our labour force is inclusive is a great thing, and the many success stories we see day in, day out at VERTO really highlight the benefits. We have many happy employers and job seekers who have both reaped the rewards. We are continuing to focus on educating employers and sharing our good news stories, and I welcome and encourage businesses to contact our Employment Services team to explore this fantastic opportunity.
Five Stars for Lithgow jobactive team
VERTO's Lithgow jobactive team has been awarded a five star rating by the Australian Government's Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, the highest achievable rating.
VERTO chief executive officer, Ron Maxwell, said he was extremely proud of VERTO Lithgow's jobactive team for this achievement, as it is the only provider to have a five star jobactive site in the Central West employment region.
"The VERTO Lithgow jobactive team [does] an outstanding job of assisting local job seekers to enter sustainable employment," he said.
"The five star rating is reflective of our hard work, commitment, and dedication to helping the Lithgow community. It is also a win for our employment partners that have assisted us in finding the right opportunities for local workers and I thank them for their support.
"Congratulations to Rachel Kennedy and the team, and I look forward to further success in the future."
As published by Lithgow Mercury, 3 September 2019.
VERTO to continue providing tenancy services in South Western New South Wales
The New South Wales Government recently advised VERTO chief executive, Ron Maxwell, that VERTO will continue as the preferred provider of the South West NSW Tenants’ Service until June 2022.
This means VERTO will continue to offer free advice and advocacy services for residential tenants in Albury, Bathurst, Goulburn, Orange, Wagga Wagga and surrounds for another three years.
Mr. Maxwell said he was thrilled VERTO was able to continue to offer this valuable service to the community.
“VERTO has been a proud provider of tenancy advice and advocacy services in South Western NSW for around 20 years,” Mr. Maxwell said.
“The service undoubtedly prevents an increase in homelessness across the region, therefore improving the lives and opportunities of many families and young children.
“I’m pleased the NSW Government has recognised the hard work and commitment of VERTO’s team, and the importance of this service to the community,” Mr. Maxwell said.
VERTO assists thousands of local residents each year.
The service is free of charge and is available to any tenant who has an enquiry or concern regarding their residential tenancy.
To find out more about VERTO’s tenancy services and how the team can provide assistance, residents can call 1300 4 VERTO (1300 483 786), visit verto.org.au, find the team on Facebook or visit their local VERTO office in Albury, Bathurst, Goulburn, Orange or Wagga Wagga.
VET in Schools participation declines
Over a five year period, the number of school students undertaking vocational education and training (VET) as part of their Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE) has declined by 6.7% to 230 700, according to new data released today by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
The report VET in Schools 2018 also reveals that the number of school-based apprentices and trainees decreased to 18,200 in 2018, down 13.3% from 2014, while those undertaking other VET that contributed to their SSCE decreased to 212,500 in 2018, down 6.0% from 2014.
Certificate II qualifications continued to be the most popular (undertaken by 54.8% of all VET in Schools students), however the number of students undertaking qualifications at this level has declined by 2.6% since 2014.
In contrast, the number of VET in Schools students enrolled in certificate III qualifications has increased by 1.7% since 2014, with 34.6% of all students undertaking training at this level in 2018.
Tourism, travel and hospitality remains the most popular training package, with 14.8% of all VET in Schools students undertaking qualifications in this training package in 2018.
Business services training package was the second most popular, with 12.4% of VET in Schools students undertaking qualifications in this training package in 2018, followed by the Sport, fitness and recreation training package.
Australian vocational education and training statistics: VET in Schools 2018 is now available from: www.ncver.edu.au/publications.
For the latest data and further year-on-year and state and territory comparisons visit https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/collections/vet-in-schools/vet-in-schools.
As published by NCVER, 2 September 2019.
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