Workin’ at the car wash: Luke Peters, Aaron Smith, Jordan Betts and Jeff Kinvig from the Vivid Work Crew were thrilled to contribute to the community by washing fire trucks.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
Four Vivid support employees embraced the task of washing fire trucks and field vehicles that were required during the region’s recent flood crisis.
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Luke Peters, Aaron Smith, Jordan Betts and Jeff Kinvig were thrilled to be commissioned to wash and clean four fire trucks and five field vehicles under the supervision of their support worker Rob Mai.
The team was handpicked by the Vivid Work Crew to wash the fleet at the Echuca CFA brigade before the vehicles were sent back to their usual headquarters.
And the best part was that they were get paid for their time and effort.
Mr Peters, Mr Smith, Mr Betts and Mr Kinvig are no strangers to cleaning vehicles.
They are all valuable employees at the Vivid Work Crew Car Wash in Francis St, Echuca — a business where more than 1250 cars are washed a year.
Finishing touches: Jeff Kinvig from the Vivid Work Crew at work.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
The Vivid Work Crew is an accredited Australian disability enterprise that offers paid and meaningful employment in a supported environment.
The work crew allows adults with an intellectual disability to make a valuable contribution to their local community while learning new skills and challenging themselves in a supportive work setting.
Mr Peters, Mr Smith, Mr Betts and Mr Kinvig are all engaged in the Vivid Work Crew as supported employees, with the supervision and guidance of their support workers.
Vivid’s business development manager Andrew Thomson said his role was to liaise with organisations and find employment opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities.
“When our participants start earning a wage, it gives them independence, purpose, it makes them feel valued and it helps with their self-esteem,” Mr Thomson said.
“Often when our participants haven’t engaged in work it’s because they have never been given the chance or they don’t have the confidence.”
Mr Thomson said the ultimate goal for the supported employees was to eventually gain open employment — meaning employment without support workers.
One Vivid supported employee has achieved just that.
Jason Allan went from working at the Vivid Car Wash to gaining open employment at Kia, three days a week.
On the job: Jordan Betts from the Vivid Work Crew gives us a thumbs up.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
Mr Thomson said Victoria’s labour shortage had resulted in positive outcomes for Vivid’s Work Crew as it had prompted employers to look at other avenues of employment.
“Organisations have been more willing to give people a try and through giving our support employees a try, they’ve realised how valuable these employees are and ask to keep them on,” Mr Thomson said.
“One of the biggest advantages of being an accredited organisation like ours is that there are a lot of NDIS regulations that require us to ensure absolute safety, which means that businesses can feel confident about our employees and their safety.”
Mr Thomson thanked the CFA for providing the work crew with an opportunity to wash their fleet, saying it meant a lot for the supported employees to be able to give back to an organisation that worked tirelessly to protect the region during the floods.
If any organisations would like to inquire about engaging the Vivid Work Crew phone Andrew Thomson on 5480 6611. Alternatively, any participants who are interested in taking on work can contact Meaghan Broom via the same number.
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