Local organisations sign on help employ disabled local
Wednesday May 20, 2009
Mark Madden (pictured seated, centre) with some of the many people who have helped him to gain employment with Cobar Shire Council.
After months of planning, an agreement has been signed to help a local disabled young man into a traineeship.
Cobar Shire Council has welcomed their newest trainee, Mark Madden, to the Planning and Environmental Services team.
Mark, 18, has an intellectual disability and epilepsy, which has made it difficult for him to access the workplace in the past.
Council has joined with Cobar High School, Access Group Training, the Central West Community College and the Department of Ageing, Disability and Homecare (DADHC) to make the traineeship for Mark possible.
The process to employ Mark began in August 2008 when DADHC disability case manager Angela Webb approached council about the possibility of engaging Mark.
Council’s human resources officer Karen Irvine said on Friday council’s general manager Ray Smith gave in-principle support more than six months ago for council to be involved in assisting Mark to achieve one of his goals.
“The process has involved identifying additional assistance Mark will require in the workplace, and sourcing funds through the Australian Apprenticeship Centre.
“Mark will work under the watchful eye of council’s ranger and mentor Graham Harbison, and he will also carry out parks and gardens duties during his Certificate II Horticulture Certificate traineeship.
“He will be required to complete 700 hours at the council up until the end of next year while also studying for his Higher School Certificate at Cobar High School,” Mrs Irvine said.
Cobar High School trainee coordinator Justin Richardson and Support Teacher Learning Assistance (STLA) Carolyn McMurtrie will be working side by side with council employees to ensure the practical and theoretical components of Mark’s traineeship are covered and are able to be signed off by the registered training organisation Access Group Training.
Mark’s parents Stuart and Joan Madden said they are “overjoyed” with their son’s success.
“I am so happy that large organisations and their individual employees, such as those at Cobar Shire Council, are willing to go out of their way for people with special needs,” Mr Madden said last week.
Mrs Madden said Mark’s Life Skills program at school will complement his hands-on learning at the council.
“The school has worked so hard to tie in Mark’s learning with what he’ll be doing on the job. We are grateful for everyone’s extra efforts,” she said.
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