Sunbury disability, and services support provider Distinctive Options Pathways, have teamed up with the Victorian Government and Major Road Projects Victoria to provide equal employment opportunities to locals living with a disability.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, working-aged people with disability have a lower employment rate than those living without disability.
That’s a comparison of 48 per cent (or 984,000), to 80 per cent (or 11.3 million), respectively.
Distinctive Options (DO) Pathways is one organisation dedicated to flipping the script on this figure. Its partnership with Major Road Projects Victoria, along with construction partner Winslow, is one example of encouraging employees living with disability to get amongst the action.
DO Pathways, based in Sunbury, employs more than 18 people, empowering them with skills, confidence, and opportunities to assist them in reaching their full potential. The company generates more than 1000 hours of paid work each year for its employees.
Because of this partnership, 12 of DO Pathways’ employees are set to play a pivotal role in spreading the word about the Sunbury Road Upgrade, by delivering more than 100,000 construction newsletters and notices for the north-west Melbourne project.
Peter is one of DO Pathways employees working with the upgrade says he loves the opportunity to get out and meet new people in the community.
“They really appreciate it. Sometimes you talk to them, sometimes you hand it to them at the mailbox,” he says. “I like coming to work because I like meeting good friends of mine – they’re like part of my family.”
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The project’s investment in DO Pathways will help the company hire and train further staff, with an estimated 30 extra positions to be created. It is also expected to give existing team members permanent long-term employment to support their confidence in the workforce.
Josh Bull, Sunbury MP, says the program and partnership is an incredible experience for participants.
“[It] will set up individuals in our community for future opportunities in the workplace and help them maintain their independence,” Bull says.
The Sunbury Road Upgrade is a part of the $2.2 billion Suburban Roads Upgrade package and is set to improve local connections and journey reliability for more than 25,000 drivers who use the road every day.
The works will include the construction of extra lanes on Sunbury Road between Powlett Street and Bulla-Diggers Rest Road, adding traffic lights, new walking and cycling connections and building a new bridge over Jacksons Creek.
This partnership between DO Pathways and MRPV on the upgrade is also supporting the Victorian Government’s Social Procurement Framework.
This framework uses State Government buying power to drive positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes–such as creating meaningful job opportunities for jobseekers with disabilities. It is also providing opportunities for social initiatives, Australian Disability Enterprises and Victorian Aboriginal businesses, making a difference for major rail and road projects in Victoria.
So far, DO Pathways’ workers have spent more than 250 work hours on construction notice delivery.
The Sunbury Road Upgrade is expected to be completed in 2025.
This article was originally published in the June edition of our magazine. To read the magazine, click here.