Employees and the community are set to benefit from a funding boost which has allowed Greenacres to purchase new equipment. Photo: Greenacres.
A new piece of equipment which cost tens of thousands of dollars will help boost productivity and the longevity of employment opportunities at Greenacres, with the disability service provider able to expand opportunities with support from a funding grant.
Workers at Greenacres are already noticing the improvement of productivity and efficiency in the workplace after a new shrink-wrapping machine was introduced to their day-to-day operations.
“I was taught how to use it the other day and in one day I wrapped 640 units,” supported employee Andrew said.
“We are able to do twice as many as we previously could, and the other machine was on its way out.”
The importance of the purchase is about more than just improving the capacity of production, it is directly linked to the way the organisation helps supported employees build practical skills, confidence and job readiness.
“This new machine is a wonderful outcome for Greenacres and the people we support,” Greenacres CEO Karen Burdett said.
“It allows our employees to build new skills, work more efficiently, and deliver a consistently high-quality service to our customers.”
The machine was bought with support of a $30,000 grant received through NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership program, which helps local not-for-profit organisations upgrade community infrastructure and purchase equipment.
Eligible applications from across the state received between $10,000 and $100,000 as part of the program with $41.85 million in total funding available for the 2026 round.
“The social enterprise operation at Greenacres provides ongoing employment opportunities for people with a disability and I would rate it as one of the most consistently happy and friendly workplaces that I have visited – everyone loves their jobs so helping to make it a bit easier with new equipment was an easy decision when assessing grant applications,” Wollongong MP Paul Scully said.
Greenacres has been creating meaningful opportunities and vital supports for people with a disability for more than 70 years and provides training, employment opportunities, respite, and community life and leisure programs to more than 500 people every week.
Those employment opportunities have become even more expansive and grown in prominence over the years, with products created featured in retail outlets and even Parliament House.
The vast range of social enterprises on offer gives employees an opportunity to explore areas of interest to them – in hospitality, homewares, packaging, manufacturing, maintenance, cleaning and many more.
But equipment does age and upgrades like this allow Greenacres to be at the forefront and continue to deliver relevant and quality experiences and products.
“Investments like this help ensure Greenacres can keep growing sustainable employment opportunities for people with disability while continuing to deliver valuable services to our community,” Karen said.
