Business boost for disability employment supporter

DEDICATION to creating more diverse and inclusive workplaces in Geelong has won regional acclaim for a local employment service.

Disability employment consulting service 4gr has been named among the finalists for the Geelong Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Geelong Business Excellence Awards (GBEAs), presented by LBW Wealth + Advisors.

4gr celebrated its 10-year anniversary earlier this month, and has provided employment services in the Barwon region since 2015.

Barwon regional manager Adele Cameron said the business aimed to create more inclusive and diverse workplaces by supporting people who have challenges or barriers to employment to participate in that valued social role.

“We’re an NDIS provider ourselves. We are a capacity building support and we’re looking to gain meaningful, open employment.

“So we’re working with three different direct plans under there; school leaders employment support funding, or finding and keeping a job funding to build their skills to be work ready and to help them find employment.

“We also work with businesses in the area to help them understand how they can be more inclusive and diverse in their workplaces, and look to find opportunities to bring the two together.

“Our goal is to help our people find work that they want to do in there areas of interest.

“Because when you love what you do, you love going to work.”

4gr provides applicants with customised support that sources opportunities that are unique to them.

Ms Cameron said the willingness of Geelong businesses to provide opportunities for 4gr applicants was a key factor in the success of the business.

“I think we are lucky in the Barwon area, particularly as the NDIS piloted in the space and has now been around for about 10 years, I think that there’s certainly a lot more awareness and preparedness to do that.

“I think that the region as a whole is certainly on the right track.

“There’s lots of work to be done obviously and you know, that’s something that we’re striving to contribute to.”

Ms Cameron said that 4gr was honoured to be a GBEA finalist, and it was affirmation of its business model.

“[The awards application] is a very big process and it’s something that you can’t take lightly.

“It does give us a spring our step that we are headed in the right direction and that we are making a positive impact for our participants.”

GBEA category winners will be announced at a gala event at GMHBA Stadium on October 19.

For more information and to book tickets, head to gbea.com.au