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History
25 Years of Personnel Employment...
1985 – Barkuma Inc receives trial funding for ‘Project Employment’
“The aim of this programme is to place and train people with Intellectual Disability in open employment. It is to divert people from Activity Therapy programs and sheltered workshops.”
1986 - Project Employment formally made a service of Barkuma Inc.
Based at Beulah Park it is the first open employment service of its type in Adelaide. Via the leadership of manager John Cooper, by June the service has over 10 staff ready to assist people with disabilities into the workforce.
1988 – Personnel Employment continues to grow.
Personnel Employment now works with over 120 total clients and 13 staff.
1989 - Changed name from Project Employment to ‘Personnel Employment’
To confirm the longevity of such a successful project, Project Employment became Personnel Employment, a name that is synonymous with helping people with disabilities find employment in the open workforce.
1992 – Commencement of the Individual Support Job Program
This program assists clients from Barkuma Sheltered Employment (now known as Commercial Services) into Open Employment via:
- greater emphasis on negotiating duties
- greater emphasis on developing co-worker support
- more intensive job support
1994 - School To Work Transition Program: the “Middle Pathway Project”.
School to Work Program began as a pilot program at Kensington Special School. It was designed to assist school students with disabilities with further education and employment options.
1997 – Craig Harrison becomes Manager of Personnel Employment
Coming from a background in the disability services industry in Queensland and Victoria, Craig helped shape Personnel Employment into the successful service provider it is today.
2000 – Personnel Employment cracks the big 200
The total number of clients that Personnel Employment services exceeds 200 in 2000.
2001- Job Club gets up and running
This innovative model used a group approach in arming people with disabilities with the skills required to get jobs.
2003 – Personnel Employment opens a Southern Office
Opening a southern office gives job seekers in the southern region greater access to Personnel Employments services.
2006 - Uncapped Program starts for all types of Disability
The Uncapped program enabled Personnel Employment to assist those with disabilities other than just intellectual or learning difficulties into the workforce. It continues to grow into one of SA’s largest service providers to people with disabilities.
2008 – Personnel Employment reaches its ‘Half Ton’
2008 saw over 500 people with disabilities being assisted to find and maintain employment. This was partially due to the great success of the Uncapped Program.
2009 - The ‘Young Offenders’ transition model with Cavan Training Centre
This partnership offered young indigenous male offenders the opportunity of stable employment. Mentoring was provided by key workers from Personnel Employment to help guide these youths to make better life choices.
2010 – Personnel Employment commences a new three year contract
All of Personnel Employments existing programs are rolled into one, creating a streamline service that aims to provide all the care, assistance and guidance required for entering or re-entering the workforce, or embarking on further education.
2011 – Personnel Employment celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
Nearly 90 staff working with 900 clients across the greater metropolitan area, Personnel Employment continues to be at the cutting edge of services and support for people with disabilities and is looking forward to another successful 25 years.
