St Vincent Industries provides meaningful employment opportunities for people living with a disability. We work diligently to create an environment that provides a supportive workplace for employees to reach their full potential. As the leading manufacturer and supplier of cleaning cloths and rags in Tasmania, our supported workers take pride in their work and experience a very real sense of achievement.
We are committed to lifelong learning for all our employees and place great emphasis on the annual reviews of Individual Employment Plans (IEP). These plans allow us to identify an individual’s ongoing training needs and opportunities for career advancement. The scope of the IEP includes the move into ‘open employment’, if that is what they desire; as well as accommodating (as far as possible) their personal goals and interests. We use the plan to identify ways we can create pathways into new areas or employment and skills-building for our employees.
Workers committee
Supported employees have their own Workers Committee that operates independently of management. It consists of eight elected supported employees who meet every month to discuss workplace issues. The initiative behind the Workers Committee is to develop the principle of independence through employment. All employees are encouraged to submit topics for discussion via an agenda book and an anonymous suggestion box, whilst a sub-committee of three members meets with the CEO on a monthly basis to assess Work Heath & Safety risks around the operation.
What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)?
The NDIS supports people with a permanent and significant disability that affects their ability to take part in everyday activities. The agency works with clients to identify supports they need to live a meaningful life. The NDIS can assist participants to achieve goals in many aspects of their lives, including independence, employment, involvement in the community, education, health, and wellbeing.
The NDIS gives clients more choice and control over how, when and where their support is required and provided; and it gives them certainty that they will receive the support they need during their lifetime. The management of St Vincent Industries is available to talk about whether existing or future employees need to be a participant in the NDIS to be employed at one of their operations.
Additional Workplace Benefits
We understand the importance of friends, fitness, wellness, and living a healthy lifestyle. So, to promote both physical fitness and community involvement, the Hobart operation started Team SVi. Now in its fifth year, all involved with Team SVi have taken part in many walking and running events, including the B&E Run, the Bridge 5km Walk, the Round the River Run, the City to Casino, the Cadbury Marathon, and the Mother’s Day Classic. To prepare for these events, Team SVi walks once a week in the warmer months.