Jobmatch celebrates success
TWO decades of working with people with a disability to find them employment and helping to sustain them in that job was marked by Gympie Jobmatch on Saturday night.
Jobseekers who have gained employment via Jobmatch, employers, staff, board members over the years, other disability employment agency representatives and representatives of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations were joined by guests for the evening to look back over the achievements of the past 20 years.
Jobmatch is a community organisation, started by a group of concerned citizens eager to see those in the Gympie region with a disability find employment and be assisted in their workplace to remain employed.
The organisation grew out of that first meeting and has continued as a community- based body since. Founding chairman Peter Mathams, who now lives in Brisbane, was at Saturday's dinner with first management board members Mary Condon, Noel Holzapfel, Ian Currie and Marie Witts.
Current board chairman Brendan Cuddihy chaired proceedings and dinner at the Civic Centre and introduced speakers to the 140-strong audience.
First manager of the organisation and general manager today, Garry Davison, spoke of the history of Jobmatch and outlined its growth over the past 20 years. It now employs 20 people working with people with a disability in the region.
Mr Davison spoke of milestones achieved and the help and dedication of many of employees and employers.
He spoke of the more than 20 jobseekers who have gained work through the agency and have now been in work for 10 years plus, some for more than 18 years.
Anna Grantley, who is legally blind, spoke of her progression through Jobmatch, from finding employment, serving as a client representative on the organisation's board and now working as an auditor with a major company based in Brisbane.
It now employs 20 people working with people with a disability in the Gympie Region.
