Supporting Australian Disability Enterprises
Joint Media Release, Senator the Hon Jan McLucas, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Disability Reform, 8 May 2012
The Gillard Government will inject $59.6 million over four years into Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) in 2012–13, supporting more than 20,000 workers with disability across Australia. This funding will help about 600 businesses, operated by 199 organisations, across Australia that provide supported employment opportunities for people with disability.
ADEs provide meaningful work and training for people with a disability who need substantial ongoing support to maintain their employment. The people they employ are people who, without specialised support, might not be able to find andkeep a job. ADEs provide jobs in industries such as catering, gardening, building and packaging and make an important contribution to local communities and to the broader economy.
Previously ADEs have received top-up funding on an ad-hoc, short-term basis. This ongoing investment will also give peace of mind to people with a disability who work in these businesses, their families and carers. The ongoing funding commitment for ADEs follows the Government’s recent $3.1 million injection to help ADEs prepare for a National Disability Insurance Scheme, which will reform the way we deliver disability care and support across Australia.
This ongoing investment brings total Australian Government funding for ADEs to more than $210 million a year.
To read the media release in full, visit:
http://www.janmclucas.fahcsia.gov.au/mediareleases/2012/pages/budget_supporting_ade.aspx
