OPTUS GRANT HELPS LOCAL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES GET JOBS

Optus funding has enabled Sunraysia Residential Services to provide job skills to disabled people in the Mallee region, to help them achieve meaningful employment.

Supported with funding of $9,950 from this year’s Optus Community Grants program, Sunraysia Residential Services (SRS), a community organisation which supports local disabled people and their families, has been able to expand its Benetook Chooks initiative.

The Benetook Chooks program has helped 20 local residents gain important employment skills and experience through the running of a hobby farm. Training in areas such as food handling and land care help participants develop the skills needed to secure employment and the chance to make a positive and lasting local impact in the community.

Don Seward, President of SRS incorporating Benetook Chooks, said, “The Optus Community Grant has made it possible for us to provide much need training and skills to members of the community with disabilities, at the Benetook Chooks farm. Initiatives such as this give the participants a better chance to achieve goals towards finding meaningful employment and contributing to the community.”

Helen Maisano, Associate Director Corporate Social Responsibility at Optus said, “We are delighted to have been able to use our Community Grants program to help the SRS organisation provide skills and training that will benefit disabled people in the South West NSW region.

“Optus sees a real community benefit by investing in an organisation that helps people with disabilities learn important life skills to help them contribute to their community. The Benetook Chooks initiative provides them with the tools and support to be able to find suitable and lasting employment.”

The annual Optus Community Grants program awards funding of up to $10,000 to not-for-profit organisations that provide a range of support services to its surrounding community. Over the past five years, Optus has donated almost $1.2 million to more than 200 community organisations across Australia.

For more information on the ‘yes’ Optus Community Grants program please visit https://www.optus.com.au/shop/aboutoptus/communitygrants

Contact Details:

Fuel Communications: 02 8217 6500/ Optus@fuelcommunications.com.au