- Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade
Hundreds of workers with a disability are being given employment opportunities through the Andrews Labor Government’s Social Procurement Framework.
The framework is using the Labor Government’s buying power to ensure that organisations tendering for government work include positive social, economic and environmental outcomes, such as jobs for disability jobseekers.
Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula recently met with workers at Yarra View Nursery in Mount Evelyn which supplies plants to some of Victoria’s major transport projects, courtesy of the framework.
Knoxbrooke’s Yarra View Nursery employs 115 people including 86 people with a disability and generates more than 120,000 hours of paid work and over 7,000 hours of accredited training each year.
The nursery produces more than one million plants annually, which are supplied to government projects including the Mernda Rail Project, Western Program Alliance, Southern Program Alliance and North East Program Alliance.
In addition to major rail and road projects in Victoria, the Social Procurement Framework is also providing opportunities for social enterprises, Australian Disability Enterprises and Victorian Aboriginal businesses through the Government’s investment in hospitals, correctional facilities and schools.
In the six months to June, the Government spent $25.2 million with 176 verified social enterprises and $4.6 million with 51 organisations that support people with a disability.
More than 60 social enterprises have also received funding through the Boost Your Business Voucher Program.
These initiatives are being delivered through the Victorian Social Enterprise Strategy which was launched at Yarra View Nursery in February 2017.
As stated by Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula
“We’re committed to creating employment opportunities across the board and in particular, to assisting those who face a barrier to finding work so that they can get an even chance.”
“We’re proud to be spearheading this framework and using our buying power to produce positive outcomes.”
As stated by Member for Monbulk James Merlino
“This is a fantastic initiative and a real testament to the work of Yarra View Nursery which is making a difference to people’s lives.”
“Everyone deserves the chance to participate in work and be given a fair go.”
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