PERTH – atWork Australia, a leading disability employment services provider in Perth, hosted its annual Employer Awards event at the picturesque Boatshed Restaurant on the Swan River. The annual awards are an opportunity for atWork Australia to acknowledge and give thanks to the valued employers with whom they partner; together making a difference to the lives of thousands of Australians through the power of work.
Michael Kolomyjec, Group Executive for atWork Australia, said ‘Just in the last year we have placed over 7,650 candidates into work. We have seen firsthand how employment improves lives, beyond the job itself. Our candidates become highly productive, valued employees who make a positive contribution to society. Seeing this transformation is the motivation for what we do, it’s a very powerful thing.’
A key to atWork Australia’s ongoing success is the strong relationships with employers, many of whom atWork Australia has been partnering with for several years. These employers are dedicated to helping Australians find employment, providing them with opportunities to receive training and mentoring, to develop skills and forge their own career paths. The 2019 awards were presented in the following categories, which recognise employers’ commitment to giving job seekers a chance at successful and long-term employment:
CHAMPION EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
The Champion Employer of the Year award recognises excellence and high achievement in providing employment opportunities to all Australians.
Winner – Stellar
Finalists – Programmed Skilled Workforce, Randstad, Chandler Macleod
Tim Morphy, CEO MedHealth with Ashley Ives from Stellar
RISING STAR EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
The Rising Star of the Year Award recognises newer employer relationships upon which we look forward to building.
Winner – KI Group
Finalists – Hays Recruitment, Cornerstone HR, Spud Shed
Tim Morphy, CEO MedHealth with Nick Kemp from KI Group
INDIGENOUS EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
The Indigenous Employer of the Year award recognises employers committed to providing employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
Winner – Sodexo
Finalists – Carey Training, Broadspectrum, Aboriginal United Services
Tim Morphy, CEO MedHealth with Nicola Larg and Stephanie Williams from Sodexo
DIVERSITY EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
The Diversity Employer of the Year award recognises employers who have demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity in the workplace and supporting job seekers from a variety of backgrounds.
Winner – IPA
Finalists – Bureau Veritas, AP Global
Tim Morphy, CEO MedHealth with Josh Aislabie from IPA
INNOVATION and COLLABORATION EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
The Innovation and Collaboration Employer of the Year award recognises employers who take a unique and innovative approach to obtaining employment and/or who work collaboratively with other partners.
Winner – VenuesLive
Finalists – Pioneer Credit, Front Age Consulting, Pivotal Management
Nick Kemp, KI Group and David Chen, VenuesLive
YOUTH EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
The Youth Employer of the Year award acknowledges employers committed to providing employment opportunities for young Australians.
Winner – Programmed Skilled Workforce
Finalists – Latitude, KI Group
Tim Morphy, CEO MedHealth with Alena Barber from Programmed Skilled Workforce
Congratulations to all winners and finalists!
This year’s guest speaker at the awards night was Shaun Pianta, Paralympian alpine skier and atWork Australia’s Disability Employment Services ambassador, who lost 90 percent of his vision while on holiday in Bali at the age of nineteen. Shaun spoke about his remarkable turnaround from being uncertain about what the future held, to competing in the 2018 Paralympics in South Korea and then securing a dream job once back in Perth.
‘It is always a privilege to share my story,’ said Shaun. ‘I had something unfortunate happen to me and it took me many years to try and figure out what I was going to do, but with the help of atWork Australia I have been able to get back into the workforce, which makes me feel a lot more positive about my future. What I want people to take away from hearing my story is sometimes in life we all face struggles and challenges, but if you’re prepared to work hard you will get a positive outcome.’
Shaun Pianta shares his story