History
The Mentally Retarded Children’s Society of SA Inc. was established in 1950 by a group of parents, who wanted education, employment and accommodation opportunities for their children within the local community at a time when institutionalised care in Adelaide was their only alternative.

The society’s aims were:
1. To seek education or training facilities for people with intellectual disabilities
2. To establish “sheltered workshops”
3. To establish residential hostels

With the setting up of a number of workshops over the next few years we found ourselves in business and hunting for customers. In 1980 the name was changed to Orana, which is an Aboriginal word for “Welcome”. This new name better reflected the now outward looking organization.

Today, after more than 50 years, the multi-faceted manufacturing and packaging operation continues to grow because everybody wins: by satisfying the needs of our employees who love what they do, they also satisfy the needs of our customers who love what they get.

How Orana works for our employees
In 2007 over 400 people with disability are discovering new abilities by learning a range of skills in the safe and supportive environment of our 11 Business Services across South Australia. Apart from the skills, they also gain the stimulation, self-esteem, social contact, a sense of independence and that all-important pride in a job well done.

How Orana works for our residents
Orana provides the opportunity for people with disabilities to live independently in a homely environment with individualised support. Our professional carers encourage and support our residents to take part in a wide range of leisure and social activities.

Alternatively, in Whyalla and on South Australia’s West Coast we provide a respite service that gives carers a rest or assistance in an emergency situation.

How Orana works for our customers
Orana was one of the first disability service organisations to achieve Quality Accreditation and we pride ourselves on having a ready and willing workforce producing a wide range of quality services and products:

• Timber and metal manufacturing
• Commercial furniture production
• Industrial sewing
• Worm-farming
• Packaging & filling
• Assembly
• Wrapping
• Collating
• Mailing
• Retail furniture, pets & accessories and plants

Strategic Plan for the organisation
Orana’s objective for many years was to blend in with the local community. As a result we have traditionally had a very low profile. However, in 2004 we developed a Strategic Plan for the organisation, incorporating a new Vision and Mission.

Our Vision is to be acclaimed for excellence in services to people with disability.

Our Mission is to be a caring, capable and viable organisation, providing a range of services to meet the needs of people with disability in our community.

In line with this, we have developed strategic operational plans in the areas of Marketing and Business Development, Human Resources, Business Operations, Client Services and Finance & Administration.

Our need to promote our services to ensure that we are a viable and capable organisation into the future, will see us marketing ourselves much more than in the past, not only as a professional supplier of Business Services, but also as an Employer of Choice both within and outside of the disability sector.

By Trevor Goldstone (CEO)

The Review of Handicapped Programs

From 1983-1985, the Commonwealth government instituted a review of funding programs for people with disabilities developed under the Handicapped Persons Assistance Act in 1974. The Review of Handicapped Programs took the unusual step of involving people with disabilities and their families in the consultation process. The findings of the Review came out in 1985 in a document called ‘New Directions’.

People with disabilities, their families and carers were critical of the existing services namely, institutional living arrangements, sheltered workshops and activity therapy centres. They wanted access to mainstream services, to be part of and to participate in the community, have access to paid employment and a choice in the services they used.

The Disability Services Act

The Disability Services Act 1986 was a result of the findings of the Review. The Act replaced the Handicapped Persons Assistance Act which was repealed. The main focus of the Act was on disability services i.e. employment, training and placement services, as well as accommodation support, respite and recreation services, and to ensure that organisations funded by the government provided disability services that achieved specific and agreed outcomes. Under the Act organisations unable to meet the new funding criteria were given five years to complete the transition to the new arrangements.

The purpose of the Disability Services Act was to make sure people with disabilities received the services they needed. The Act encouraged more open employment of people with disabilities, as opposed to employment in sheltered workshops. As a result of the Disability Services Act, sheltered workshops were progressively closed down across Australia.

Employment

The Disability Services Act established two new types of service. The first service type was supported employment services, developed to assist people for whom competitive employment at award wages was not possible. The second was the competitive employment, training and placement (CETP) service. It was designed to assist people with disabilities to obtain and retain paid employment in the mainstream labour market. Today, these have evolved into business services and open employment services.

Business Services provide employment for people with a medium to high level of disability who usually need support to remain in paid employment. They are supported in their work through regular job training, career planning and counselling. They work alongside people without disabilities and under equal working conditions.

Open Employment Services are similar to those offered by employment agencies and assist people with disabilities to take on jobs in the regular workforce i.e. open employment. A support worker will assist an individual to find employment and provide them with training in their new job. The support worker, after the initial training period has ended, will usually visit the individual on a regular basis to see how they are going and provide further training, counselling or any other assistance if needed.

Organisations

The following organisations began as sheltered workshops but over time have changed due the impact of the Disability Services Act and society’s expectations of what people with a disability need in the area of employment.

Bedford Industries

Bedford began in 1920 as the Civilian Tuberculosis and Cancer Comfort Fund to bring relief to sufferers of tuberculosis (TB). In 1945 it changed its name to Bedford Industries and started a woodworking shop at Glenelg for eight men recovering from TB.

Today, it provides training, employment and residential and day options services to more than 700 people with disabilities across Adelaide. Bedford operates four sites across metropolitan Adelaide with commercial operations in horticulture, hospitality and packaging. Bedford also assists people with a disability find open employment.

In 2003 it was named SA Training Awards ‘Employer of the Year’.

Accommodation is provided at Balyana in motel style rooms and shared houses with further houses available in the community. Bedford’s Day Option Service (Bedford Community Access) provides community based day options in the areas of leisure, recreation, skills training, education and independent living skills to people with moderate to high support needs.

Orana

Orana began in 1950 as the Mentally Retarded Children’s Society of SA Inc. It was formed by parents who were seeking educational, vocational and training opportunities for children with intellectual disabilities. Over the next few years a number of sheltered workshops were set up and in 1980 the name was changed to Orana, which is an Aboriginal word for ‘Welcome’.

Today, after more than 50 years, Orana provides a range of employment, respite and accommodation services throughout South Australia to over 500 people with an intellectual disability.

Phoenix

The Phoenix Society began in 1959 with the aim ‘to help the physically handicapped to help themselves’. The first building the Society owned was an old cottage in Carrington Street, Adelaide. Its first contract was with the SA Brewing Company for the repair of 40 crates, at a total cost of 17 cents each.

During the 1980’s the Society’s original aim was changed to assist mostly people with an intellectual disability. The Phoenix Society provides vocational training and supported employment to 450 people, mainly with an intellectual disability, who choose not to move to open employment.

The Society operates four factories across metropolitan Adelaide and one in Whyalla with commercial operations in general packaging, mailing, wood maching, assembly work, light engineering assembly, sewing and embroidery, and laser printing.

Barkuma

Barkuma began in 1964 as a branch of the Mentally Retarded Children’s Society. It was incorporated in 1967 and provided a sheltered workshop, training and accommodation services for people with an intellectual or other disability.

Today, it offers a range of services to people with an intellectual disability. It provides supported employment in a range of business enterprises including furniture manufacturing and contract work and also provides opportunities for open employment. Barkuma provides individualised support and specialised support in the areas of counselling, training, community access and advocacy.

Labour force participation rate

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in 2003 people with a disability and of working-age had a lower labour force participation rate (53%) and a higher unemployment rate (8.6%) than other working-age Australians without disabilities (i.e. 81% and 5.0% respectively).

It was found that labour force participation decreases as the severity of the disability increases. People with a severe disability had a work participation rate of 30%. The majority (58%) of people with a disability and of working-age yet not working reported that they were permanently unable to work. Of that group, 52% of them were aged 55 years or older.

The ABS noted that some disability groups reported higher rates of permanent incapacity than others. For example, 48% of people with a psychological disability whereas 28% of people with a sensory disability reported being permanently unable to work. The ABS concluded that people with a disability may use mainstream or specialist disability services to help them find work. They stated that 10% of unemployed people with a disability were receiving assistance from a disability job placement program or agency.

References

Barkuma. 2007. [online]. [Accessed 15th May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.barkuma.com.au/

Bedford Industries. 2007. [online]. [Accessed 15th May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.bedfordindustries.com.au/about_history.htm

Daniels, D. Social Security Payments for the Aged, People with Disabilities and Carers 1909 to 2006 – Part 1. 2007 [online]. [Accessed 15th May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/online/aged1.htm#invalidpension

Life to live. 2007. [online]. [Accessed 15th May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.dsa.org.au/life_site/text/employment/index.html

Lindsay, M. 2004. ‘Background Paper 2′ 1995-96: Commonwealth Disability Policy 1983-1995 [online]. [Accessed 22nd May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/bp/1995-96/96bp06.htm

Orana. 2007. [online]. [Accessed 15th May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.oranaonline.com.au/services.html

Paid work: Labour force characteristics of people with a disability. 2006. [online]. [Accessed 22nd May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: Link

Phoenix Society. 2007. [online]. [Accessed 15th May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.phoenixsoc.org.au/about-history-phoenix-society.htm

Consequently, they began setting up ‘sheltered workshops’ in order to provide employment and training for their children. The term ‘sheltered’ implied sheltering people with disabilities from the challenges of competition in open employment.

1960’s – 1970’s

In 1967, the Commonwealth government passed the Sheltered Employment (Assistance) Act providing grants to non-profit organisations to establish and equip sheltered employment and supported accommodation. This Act enabled the Phoenix Society to access 2-for-1 funding for Capital works and purchase a new site in Torrensville, where it still operates today.

The Commonwealth government also introduced a Sheltered Employment Allowance (SEA) in 1967 for individuals working in sheltered workshops. They were paid at the same rate as those on an Invalid Pension but a means test was structured to allow for their earnings. If they earned more than $10 per week (Single) or $17 per week (Married) their SEA was reduced by one dollar for every two they earned.

Commonwealth funding was further increased as a result of The Handicapped Persons Assistance Act in 1974. Subsidies were given to eligible organisations that provided training, therapy and rehabilitation. The Act gave official status to activity therapy centres. These centres promoted personal development for people with a disability that enabled them to achieve maximum independence and self-sufficiency. As a result some sheltered workshops sought reclassification as activity therapy centres.

1980′s

From 1983 to 1985, the Commonwealth Government undertook a review of funding programs for people with disabilities, which resulted in the Disability Services Act in 1986. The Act encouraged more open employment of people with disabilities, as opposed to employment in sheltered workshops. As a result of the Disability Services Act, sheltered workshops were progressively closed down across Australia.

Organisations

The following organisations began as sheltered workshops but over time have changed and adapted to government and societies expectations of what people with a disability need in the area of employment.

Bedford Industries

Bedford Industries is a not-for-profit organisation and provides training, employment and accommodation services for more than 700 people with disabilities across Adelaide. Bedford began in 1920 as the Civilian Tuberculosis and Cancer Comfort Fund to bring relief to sufferers of tuberculosis (TB). In 1945 it changed its name to Bedford Industries and started a woodworking shop at Glenelg for eight men recovering from TB.

On Goodwood Road, at Panorama the Cowan Building was built with 10,000 square feet of factory floor space. It was officially opened in 1950 and a sewing business started. In 1960 Bedford Industries opened its doors to people with all types of disabilities. A fleet of 28 buses was purchased to transport employees to and from work each day.

In 1962 training commenced in book-binding, boot and shoe repair, office procedures, food preparation and service and packaging.

In 1976 the Katuni Adult Training Centre was opened at Edwardstown. Over the years Bedford established engineering and printing departments, grounds maintenance, commercial cleaning, packaging and furniture manufacturing divisions.

In 1974 Balyana, a residential centre was opened by the Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam. Bedford has become a recognised leader in the provision of disability services nationally. In 2003 it was named SA Training Awards ‘Employer of the Year’.

Orana

Orana is a not-for-profit organisation that provides employment, accommodation and respite services to over 500 people with an intellectual disability. Orana began in 1950 as the Mentally Retarded Children’s Society of SA Inc. It was formed by parents who were seeking educational, vocational and training opportunities for children with intellectual disabilities.

The society’s aims were:

1. To seek education or training facilities for people with intellectual disabilities

2. To establish “sheltered workshops

3. To establish residential hostels

Over the next few years a number of sheltered workshops were set up and in 1980 the name was changed to Orana, which is an Aboriginal word for ‘Welcome’. Today, after more than 50 years Orana has continued to grow. It provides accommodation and respite services, an extensive range of services to local and interstate businesses and offers a variety of employment and training options to people with disabilities.

Phoenix

In 1959 the Phoenix Society commenced with the aim ‘to help the physically handicapped to help themselves’. The first building the Society owned was an old cottage in Carrington Street, Adelaide. Its first contract was with the SA Brewing Company for the repair of 40 crates, at a total cost of 17 cents each. Additional contracts were found for their 16 physically disabled employees.

Within a couple of years, the Society had 45 employees, mainly physically disabled people. The Society continued to grow and, with the assistance of Government they moved to larger premises on Glen Osmond Road where they did different types of work including woodworking and assembly functions.

In 1967 the Society purchased a new site in Torrensville. By the end of the sixties, they had a workforce of 85. By the early eighties the Society had the number of employees increase to as many as 324. A site was established at Gepps Cross to provide employment opportunities for people living in the Northern suburbs. The Society’s original aim ‘to help the physically handicapped to help themselves’ changed to assist mostly people with an intellectual disability.

The Society experienced its most dramatic growth during the 1990’s and operated as a business service, rather than a traditional sheltered workshop. It became a genuine place of employment for people with disabilities who chose not to move to Open Employment. It has opened new commercial factories in Elizabeth and Whyalla and streamlined its operations at Torrensville and Gepps Cross. Over the years the Society has changed but it continues to help and support people with disabilities.

Barkuma

Barkuma began in 1964 as a branch of the Mentally Retarded Children’s Society. It was incorporated in 1967 and provided a sheltered workshop, training and accommodation services for people with an intellectual or other disability.

Today, Barkuma offers a range of services to people with an intellectual disability. It provides supported employment in a range of business enterprises including furniture manufacturing and contract work. It also offers an employment service, provides individualised support and specialised support in the areas of counselling, training, community access and advocacy.

References

Barkuma. 2007. [online]. [Accessed 15th May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.barkuma.com.au/

Bedford Industries. 2007. [online]. [Accessed 15th May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.bedfordindustries.com.au/about_history.htm

Life to live. 2007. [online]. [Accessed 15th May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.dsa.org.au/life_site/text/employment/index.html

Lindsay, M. 2004. ‘Background Paper 2′ 1995-96: Commonwealth Disability Policy 1983-1995 [online]. [Accessed 22nd May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/bp/1995-96/96bp06.htm

Orana. 2007. [online]. [Accessed 15th May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.oranaonline.com.au/services.html

Phoenix Society. 2007. [online]. [Accessed 15th May 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.phoenixsoc.org.au/about-history-phoenix-society.htm

Westhorp, G., Sebastian, A., Morrell, D. & Mayne, M. 1997. Advocacy and people with a disability: A learning package. Mile End, South Australia: Disability Action Inc