[va_lcg_act] Fw: Vision Australia Enterprises RCC Consultation
- From: "Robert and Judith James" <randjjames1@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <va_lcg_act@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 09:49:03 +1000
Hi Members,
Sorry for this but here is a repeat and this time with the further items to
read.
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: Julie Hodson
To: Robert (Bob) James
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 9:09 AM
Subject: RE: Vision Australia Enterprises RCC Consultation
Hi Bob,
I have copied the attachments to the bottom of the original message below. I
hope this is okay for you.
Kind regards,
Julie
----- Original Message -----
From: Julie Hodson
To: VARCC1 ; VARCC2 ; VARCC3 ; VARCC4 ; VARCC5 ; Brent Franklin ; Bill Jolley
Cc: Ron Hooton ; Kevin Murfitt -External ; Maryanne Diamond ; Damien
McCormack
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2013 3:11 PM
Subject: Vision Australia Enterprises RCC Consultation
Hello RCC Members,
Please find below an e-mail sent on behalf of Stephen Belbin.
Kind regards,
Julie
Dear Colleagues
As you would be aware, a decision has been made of the intention to close
Vision Australia Enterprises (VAE). VAE is a supported disability employment
program based in Kensington and Coorparoo. Staff at both locations provide
warehousing, pick 'n pack, fulfilment and logistics services. There are also
three VAE staff employed for Braille Library services in Enfield.
Over the next six weeks, a consultation process is taking place about this
decision. I feel consultation with the client consultative framework is a
vital part of this consultation process. To this end, Vision Australia is
seeking feedback from within the framework on the intention to close Vision
Australia Enterprises.
Vision Australia would like your response to the following questions:
1. Do you agree with the decision taken by Vision Australia to end its
participation in supported employment? If you don't agree with closing Vision
Australia Enterprises, what other options do you propose?
2. Do you endorse a goal of open employment for those in the blindness and
vision impaired community seeking work?
3. Do you support the approach being taken by Vision Australia in working
with each individual staff member to develop their options for the future,
including open employment, employment with other ADEs, training, counselling
and financial and budgeting assistance?
4. Are there any other comments you would like to make?
Please do provide feedback from your Local Client Group membership, where
possible.
Your responses will be compiled into a report that the CRC will present at
the next CRC meeting on 31 August. As the CRC meeting is fast approaching,
your responses to the above questions will need to be forwarded to
clientconsultation@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx no later than 2.00pm, Thursday, 22nd
August. I appreciate your understanding in advance for the tight deadline.
Attached is a pro-forma you may like to use to send in your feedback.
Vision Australia has also created a separate e-mail address to enable
feedback to be received from staff and clients. Should you wish, or if you are
unable to respond to the CCE team by 22 August, you can provide feedback to
Vision Australia through this email address: vaesubmissions@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
by 20 September 2013.
The overall feedback and proposals received from staff, clients and the
community during the consultation period will be collated and presented to the
Board at the end of the six week consultation period (20 September). They will
then consider the matter further and will either confirm the decision to close
Vision Australia Enterprises, or make a different decision.
I have attached the information paper sent previously to members of the
framework, providing background and information. Should you have any questions
please don't hesitate to contact the CRC Chair, Stephen Belbin, by e-mail on
stephen.belbin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, or phone 0409 000 100.
Regards,
Stephen Belbin
CRC Chair
Briefing for Vision Australia's Client Consultative Framework
8 August 2013
Announcement
Vision Australia has today announced the decision of its intention to close
its supported disability employment operations - Vision Australia Enterprises
(VAE). VAE operations are based in Kensington VIC, Enfield NSW, and Coorparoo
QLD. All affected staff were advised of the Board's decision through a series
of meetings held today on the Enterprise sites. No VAE positions are being made
redundant today.
Consultation
Pursuant to the Unified Enterprise Agreement, we are commencing a six week
consultation period in respect of the decision to close. This consultation
period will run from Friday, 9 August 2013 to Friday, 20 September 2013 and
will involve the affected staff, their families, unions representing staff, and
our Employee Consultative Committee.
At the completion of the consultation period, the Vision Australia Board will
consider any issues raised during the consultation period which it should take
into account, and then will either confirm the decision to close, or make a
different decision. If the decision to close is confirmed, closure will likely
be finalised by February 2014.
Funders
Staff in Coorparoo and Kensington provide warehousing, pick 'n' pack,
fulfilment and logistics services.
Our operation in Coorparoo is funded by the Queensland Department of
Education, Training and Employment (DETE) ($500,000 pa until the end of the
2013-2014 financial year). DETE supports 14 staff in Coorparoo, three trainees
and two general employees. It is not an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE).
Our operation in Kensington is funded through the Department of Families,
Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs' (FaHCSIA) ADE program.
There are 51 staff at Kensington, 33 of whom have their wages subsidised
($350,000 pa in total) through FaHCSIA's ADE program. The remaining 18 staff
are funded in open employment by Vision Australia.
There are 3 staff employed for Braille Library services in Enfield who are
Vision Australia employees and work closely with the Kensington Enterprise.
Rationale
The decision of the intention to close VAE follows an internal review of the
business, which has sustained substantial losses over a number of years. We
have been unable to make Enterprises work because of a combination of factors
including wage levels and competition for work. VAE has been able to continue
operating up until now because the broader organisation has been able to
subsidise the operations. However, this is no longer possible. Total losses are
estimated to be approx. $1.2m this financial year.
The Enterprises were acquired by Vision Australia when we merged with other
blindness organisations several years ago; Royal Victorian Institute for the
Blind in 2004, and Royal Blind Foundation Queensland in 2006.
In 2009 we implemented a change program with the goal of shifting to a social
enterprise model to address the large deficits. Over the intervening years
there has been considerable effort and investment to find ways for VAE to
develop income streams that are financially sustainable. This saw a change in
direction within VAE whereby third party logistics became the preferred new
core activity, and assembly and packaging work was undertaken only when a
reasonable return could be achieved, or it was supported by third party
logistics, or for strategic purposes.
Prior to the Board making its decision to close, discussions were held with
United Voice in Queensland and the Blind Workers Union in Victoria with the aim
of exploring financially sustainable options. Despite our best efforts we have
been unable to realise a sustainable model.
Vision Australia remains committed to the view that it is imperative for the
future of the organisation as a whole and its ability to provide support and
assistance to those who are blind or have low vision, to ensure all operations
are financially sustainable.
We have to focus on what we're really good at. We have tried to make
Enterprises work. However, some of the available work is not appropriate or
meaningful for staff, and we have been unable to make the operations viable.
VAE staff
Our priority is to support staff and their families in relation to this
announcement.
VAE employs 73 staff and 80% of those staff are blind or have low vision. If
the decision to close is confirmed, the majority of the positions at VAE would
be made redundant.
Any closure will be implemented over a three month transition period and we
would work with each staff member to develop a plan to find other
opportunities, which may include redeploying up to 12 staff into open
employment within the organisation to provide continuity of internal
activities, mainly around CD-ROM distribution for our accessible information
library service.
All affected staff will get redundancy packages, family support and
counselling, and ongoing social support within our recreation and day programs
to maintain social engagement. Individualised plans will include a range of
supports, such as outplacement support to find a new employer, and an
assessment of specific pathways including potential open employment, and
employment-based skills development through certificate based training.
We are aware that many of our VAE employees may need intensive support to
help them find other opportunities.
Next Steps
We will continue to work with DETE and FaHCSIA.
In the event that closure is confirmed, we will work closely with our
Enterprise customers (up to 18) to whom we provide services to ensure that they
can transition seamlessly to another provider.
John Gow, Workforce Manager (p: 03 9864 9255) is managing the consultation
process and receiving formal feedback. John will be arranging meetings for
staff, the Unions, and Vision Australia's Employee Consultative Committee to
provide feedback during the consultation period.
Please direct any media enquiries to Rebecca McLean in the Communications
department on 0428 496 105.
MEMBER FEEDBACK on
VISION AUSTRALIA ENTERPRISES
RCC:
Name (Optional):
1. Do you agree with the decision taken by Vision Australia to end its
participation in supported employment? If you don't agree with closing Vision
Australia Enterprises, what other options do you propose?
2. Do you endorse a goal of open employment for those in the blindness and
vision impaired community seeking work?
3. Do you support the approach being taken by Vision Australia in working
with each individual staff member to develop their options for the future,
including open employment, employment with other ADEs, training, counselling
and financial and budgeting assistance?
4. Are there any other comments you would like to make?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK.
Julie Hodson
Manager, Client Consultation and Engagement (Mon-Thurs)
International and Stakeholder Relations Department
Vision Australia
4 Mitchell Street
ENFIELD NSW 2136
Ph: 02 9334 3329
Mobile: 0479 043 055
Ph: 1300 847 466
www.visionaustralia.org
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Come along to Vision Australia's Texpo and open day to discover the latest
technology and services for people who are blind or have low vision. This year
Texpo is being held in: Brisbane, Friday 30 and Saturday 31 August, Melbourne
Friday 6 and Saturday 7 September and Sydney Friday 13 and Saturday 14
September. For further information please call Vision Australia on 1300 84 74
66, visit www.visionaustralia.org/texpo or email to info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
and find us on Facebook and Twitter.
ABN: 67 108 391 831 ACN: 108 391 831
Vision Australia is a partnership between people who are blind, sighted or
have low vision. We are united by our passion that people who are blind or have
low vision will have access to and fully participate in every part of life they
choose.
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addressee you must not use, disclose, copy, disseminate or print the email or
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us immediately and delete the email and any copies.
Vision Australia is not responsible for any changes made to a document other
than those made by Vision Australia or for the effect of the changes to the
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corruption or unauthorised access.
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