Macarthur Personnel, a division of Macarthur Disability Services, has recently reached a significant milestone in the placement of their 500th job-seeker into employment. “That's 500 people with a disability in Macarthur who are now participating in the workforce. 500 people for which MDS has made a difference and this is a great achievement for the staff of Macarthur Personnel", beams Anne Thorn, General Manager of Macarthur Disability Services.

Macarthur Personnel has been successful for a number of years in finding award-paying, long term jobs for people with a disability. They have also developed great links with the local business community and are known for their well delivered service and support of both the worker and the employer.

Since its commencement in 1993, Macarthur Personnel has worked with a number of employers across Sydney. The following employers in particular are recognised for their continued employment of people with a disability through Macarthur Personnel.

Chilis Texas Grill at Woodbine is a local business employing kitchen hands and cleaners through Macarthur Personnel.

HM Gem Engines at Chipping Norton employs a number of general hands from Macarthur Personnel and is nationally recognised as a top employer for people with a disability.

Macarthur Group Companies recently entered into a partnership with Macarthur Personnel to increase the number of people with a disability entering traineeships and apprenticeships. By early 2005, this partnership will have at least 8 clear outcomes in this area.

Campbelltown City Council has made a commitment to employing two trainees with a disability each year. The first two administration traineeships have just completed and Macarthur Personnel is currently recruiting for the next two trainees for 2005.

Camden Council offers work experience, and currently employs two trainees and two workers with a disability.

Hyde Park Inn in Sydney employs a number of room attendants from Macarthur Personnel and continues to offer opportunities for people with a disability to work in a top class hotel. Macarthur Personnel has a very professional team of staff who are responsible for the above achievement.

In the middle of the year the NSW State Government announced sweeping reforms to the Adult Training Learning and Support (ATLAS) program. The ATLAS program has been divided into two separate programs: Transition to Work and Community Participation. After much protest from services and parents the State Government set the funding for the Community Participation program at $13,500 per person. This still represents a significant drop in funding. Work is still continuing to develop a method to identify and supplement funding for people with more significant support needs.

Macarthur Disability Services through Macarthur Progressions has been approved to provide both of the new services.
What this means to you:

• Transition to Work participants will receive 18 hours per week of service for two years.This program is aimed to transition participants into work.
  
• Community Participation participants will receive approximately three days of service dependent upon further negotiations with the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.
  
• If you leave your program you can no longer transfer funds with you as the funding will remain with the service.
  
• DADHC will manage new vacancies. This means that DADHC will place you in an appropriate service to meet your needs if a vacancy is available.
  
• You need to continue to lobby your local Member of Parliament, Premier Bob Carr and Minister Carmel Tebbett.
  Macarthur Disability Services will continue to advocate on behalf of all our service participants for a fairer program that can continue to meet their individual needs.

What a year it has been. The reforms announced by the State Government with the drastic funding cuts seemed to turn the clock back ten years. Little consultation with service users, their families or service providers occurred. It was assumed you could halve funding levels without a drop in hours or without affecting the quality of the services provided. MDS has been active in putting forward the realities of providing services for individuals with a wide range of needs. Although there has been some increase in the funding levels since the reforms, the fight is a long way from over.

Macarthur Personnel recently met their 500th successful job placement. What a great achievement, showing the ongoing commitment of businesses in Macarthur to give everyone a fair go.

MDS Day continues to attract more local people and is increasing the public awareness of the achievements of people with a disability in Macarthur. This and the Annual Ball held to celebrate International Day for People with a Disability were sponsored by local businesses and Councils. MDS continues to meet milestones and create more opportunities for innovative programming through new funding providers such as the Foundation for Young Australians and the Women’s Foundation.

This year has also seen new partnerships established with the University of Western Sydney, Macarthur Group Trainers, local Councils and the Campbelltown Bicentennial Art Gallery. These partnerships provide further opportunities and access to services for people with a disability and ensure that MDS remains innovative and excited in the programs we can offer.

It is great to work in Macarthur where the community works together through various networks to provide opportunities for people with a disability and is so supportive of what we do. This year has seen MDS services pull together in a coordinated way and work closely with a wide range of other service providers to ensure that people in Macarthur with a disability receive the best services that meet their needs. I look forward to next year when we can unveil further exciting programs and opportunities.

Have a happy and safe Christmas and look forward to the start of what promises to be an exciting new year.

Anne Thorn.

“My artwork is a reflection of the principles and objectives of Macarthur Disability Services”, states Carmelina, referring to a series of three artworks where she captures what MDS is all about through the use of food.

The artworks were featured on certificates of appreciation presented to the financial sponsors of the MDS Annual Ball 2004.

“We always give sponsors certificates, but this year we wanted them to be something more special”, says General Manager Anne Thorn.

Carmelina completed her HSC this year and is now eagerly awaiting her UAI, hoping to be offered a place in a Bachelor of Creative Arts degree. “I wish to continue my studies in the visual arts at a tertiary level in the years to come and still continue working with clients through the commissioning of artworks”.

MDS’ Gym Buddies program aims to increase the fitness of young people with a disability. Gym Buddies was launched in August 2004 and has since proved to be a great success. Gym Buddies is run at Fitness First Campbelltown and is always looking for enthusiastic people to join in and become gym buddies or gym buddy volunteers. Volunteers provide friendship and support to gym buddies so they can become confident to attend the gym independently. Four of the original participants of the program have now moved on to going to the gym independent of the group, with their Gym Buddy volunteer.

Clare Thorn, coordinator of the program, says that fitness tests indicate that the fitness levels of all participants have increased substantially since the program’s beginning.

“They can now do more sit-ups, push-ups, and heavier weights than before, and their confidence has really risen”, Clare says. “You can really tell the difference.”
Joining or volunteering for Gym Buddies could be a great way to fulfill one of your 2005 new year’s resolutions. Call MDS on 4621 8400 or check out the MDS website for more information.

The Opening Ceremony kicked off the day with the first medals awarded for the best banner. There were many events during the day including 50m and 200m running and wheelchair races, running & novelty relays, 200m walk, tunnel- ball, shot- put, frisbee discus, and a demonstration game of touch football.
Events were planned to allow everyone to participate, even for staff who could not believe they won the tunnel-ball.

It was a fun day for all involved and showed the importance of working together as a team as well as individually.

Personal fitness has been a big focus of MDS over the last year, especially with the launch of the Gym Buddies fitness program. There was only one injury on the day - a staff member suffered a fractured wrist after tripping on the starting blocks of the 200m running race.

Services users and staff had such a good time it was decided that this successful day would become an annual event - the MDS Mini Championships. It was agreed that four years is too long to wait for such a fun event.

Kieran Dinnerville won the race, followed closely by Yen Tran finishing 2nd, who was defending her last year’s title, and Rosemary Little making up 3rd place. After the race, Sherie Avalos, Vocational Services Manager of MDS, presented the MDS Cup to Dinnerville.

The Annual Ball aims to highlight the achievements and abilities of people with a disability in our community. This year MDS achieved its 500th successful job placement and celebrated this great milestone by recognising our top 6 employers of people with a disability. MDS’ first ever job placement was also commemorated with a speech from Joshua Moore.

The Ball became an annual event after the success of last year’s Black Tie Ball 2003, where participants had such a good time that they were cheering for more. “Our aim was to make this year’s Ball bigger and better than last year, and we succeeded”, says Anne Thorn, General Manager.

There were many prizes won on the night. There were raffles for a framed and signed Bulldogs 2004 rugby league jersey, a signed and framed The Footy Show poster, signed and framed Home and Away photos, Sydney Bridgeclimb tickets, a signed Bulldogs football, and more. There were also several lucky door prizes.

Big band the Horn Stars performed once again at the Ball, they also entertained us at last year’s ball under the name of The Big Big Band. They are truly an amazing band, so fun and full of energy that everone couldn’t help but to get out on the dance floor. The band members even conducted the Ford Racing Car Jacket Auction and managed push the bids to $1000.

MDS would like to thank all the sponsors and supporters of the night, including Gold Sponsor SGP Insurance Brokers, Silver Sponsors McGrath Motor Group and HM Gem Engines, Bronze Sponsors Department of Family and Community Services, BCP Group Services, Marsdens Law Group, Ken Shafer Smash Repairs and Campbelltown Catholic Club.

“MDS Day is designed to showcase the variety of services provided by Macarthur Disability Services as well as how we make a difference to the lives of people with a disability through these services”, says Anne Thorn.

“Another objective of this day is to enhance and develop general community awareness and understanding of disability issues among our community. Added to this is the need to break down long held myths and stigmas about people with a disability, hence the theme Finding Pathways”.

The response from local schools, services and many businesses in supporting the day was great. The day saw a fine display of local talent, including international band Djoliba, local hip hop artists from Macarthur Diversity Services, vocalist Jessica Rees, La Voz Drumming Workshop, classical guitarist Jeff Tooth, the Signing Choir from Beverly Park Special Needs School, circus performers from Campbelltown School of Performing Arts, and Ian Moran as MC. The day was also supported by the Streets Paddle Pop Lion and C91.3.

The day provided a free sausage sizzle, free drinks, and ice-cream. Graham West, MP Member for Campbelltown, officially opened the day.

Thank you to Campbelltown Council and all our supporters for this important annual event including C91.3, Expo Hire Exhibitions and Events, Camden Hire, Ken Shafer Smash Repairs, Streets Ice Creams, Blue Ribbon Meats Leumeah, Bakers Delight Campbelltown, Donut King Narellan, Macarthur Diversity Services, and all performers. MDS Day was very successful again and we look forward to next year's being even bigger and better.

All of the modules are aimed at improving the vocational skill level of people who are still enrolled in school or have recently left school, in order to increase their chances of getting a job. The students focus on improving their communication techniques, knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety, their rights as workers, including unions, superannuation and taxation information.

They also have a vocational assessment, where they learn and decide what types of jobs they are interested in pursuing. The course includes mock job interviews, where all students are expected to arrive dressed in appropriate interview clothes for their relevant position. An independent panel of interviewers then assesses them and the students also assess themselves on how they have done.

At this point in time, 4 of the students have secured new apprenticeships, others have either completed or been enrolled in further studies at TAFE and 10 of the students have secured positions in both the open and supported labour markets. Approximately 80% of students have completed at least 2 – 3 weeks of work experience with glowing references that will be added to their ever expanding resumes.

In addition to these impressive figures, 75% of students have registered with Centrelink as job seekers and are being referred to Macarthur Personnel. The remaining students are continuing to work with our Transition to Work team, to further increase their skills.
Overall, 2004 has been a very successful year for the BAW program. MDS is looking forward to working with as many high school students and school leavers as possible next year. MDS wishes the students the best of luck with their careers, as many and varied as they will be. Congratulations to all of the students and a huge thank-you to the staff in the BAW program for all their hard work throughout the year.

Kirk finished his HSC this year at Picton High School, and has also completed Certificate 2 in Hospitality & Tourism. “Kirk is a hard working, friendly and dedicated young man,” says Kylie Crnek, the Vocational Training & Placement Officer from Macarthur Disability Services who has been working with Kirk. He graduated from Certificate 1 Becoming a Worker run by MDS, and will be a participant in next year’s Transition to Work program. From there he hopes to secure an apprenticeship in Hospitality.

Alison Doyle, MDS Community Services Manager, was expansive in her praise for George and his dedication to the Swimming program and all its service users.

Jeff has been working part-time for MDS Complete Property Services for the last four years, and also does voluntary work in music therapy at Waratah House.

Jeff has recorded two CDs, the latest being Bits & Pieces recorded October 2004 at the Academy of Guitar Campbelltown, and Guitar Serenity recorded in 2000. Some tracks on these CDs include nice covers of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven, Pink Floyd’s Is There Anybody Out There?, amongst many others.

Jeff performs live at a number of community events, including the recent Macability Day, and is now a regular for MDS Day. Jeff is available for all private functions and may be contacted through MDS on 4621 8400 for enquiries or CD purchases.

Katherine Firth has also left MDS earlier this year, MDS recognises her great work as Recreation Coordinator for the last 4 years.

All service participants are encouraged and assisted to use generic services available in the community such as public transport, community services and leisure programs.

1. Information is provided in a newsletter with items collected and passed on by service participants and staff.

2. Service participants will be encouraged to have an active role in the development of the newsletter.

3. Macarthur Disability Services encourages service participant integration within the workforce.

4. Co-worker training is also encouraged and greatly assists in the process of integration into the work place.

5. Macarthur Disability Services service participants can access and contribute to a Community Resource Library.