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Regional jobs threatened due to national non-profit IDEAS funding cuts

Announcement posted by IDEAS 12 Dec 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12 December 2017. Sydney, Australia. With the funding cuts to national not-for-profit organisation IDEAS (Information on Disability Education & Awareness Services), numerous regional jobs will follow.

In 2015, the ABS reported that some 535,600 people with disability lived in outer regional areas of Australia – 22.3% of the total population of people with disability. IDEAS operates nationally with a vision to support people with disability, and is especially committed to servicing rural and regional areas, where people with disability struggle to access the information and services they need.

IDEAS employ and upskill their workers, the majority of whom live with disability and reside in regional areas where they wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to work in an understanding and empathetic environment. These jobs will be lost if the NSW Government do not reinstate funding for this crucial service.

Kate Galloway, IDEAS’ Database and Knowledge Management Coordinator, who herself has a visual disability, says IDEAS is vital – both as a service and as an employer.

“I think the loss of IDEAS for the community would be devastating. IDEAS empowers its clients to gain choice and control by providing them with independent and free information, but it also empowers its employees by believing in us, and providing us with a work environment that is supportive and full of opportunity.”

With IDEAS’ funding due to be cut in June 2018, not only will people with disability lose access to a vital information service, the people whom IDEAS employs – the majority being people with disability in regional areas – will be forced to look for work outside a sector that understands and empathises with disability.

“One of the things I love about IDEAS and my job is their understanding of people with disability. IDEAS employs people with disability, and understands them. Adjustments are made without question and training sessions are conducted in a way that suits ALL employees,” said Ms Galloway.

“If IDEAS loses its funding, I will be thrown back into the world of job seeking and would face gaining employment in a much less understanding environment.”

You can challenge the proposed funding cuts and job losses by signing IDEAS’ petition to call on the NSW Government to reverse the funding cuts. 

Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/help-ideas-continue-to-support-australians-with-disability-through-information
~ENDS

For media enquiries, contact Prue Roberts at Manning & Co: prue@manningandco.com.au or (02) 9555 5233. 

About IDEAS (http://www.ideas.org.au): We are an accessible and independent information hub for people with a disability, older people and their carers and families. We provide valuable resources about services, support, healthcare, housing, events and awareness across Australia. A key focus for us is supporting all communities who would otherwise struggle to access these services.