Karingal and Alcoa partnership wins award
15 December 2011
The Alcoa Aluminium Smelter in Point Henry has won the 2011 National Disability Awards - Business Award, recognising the organisation’s long term partnership with Karingal.
The award winners were announced at a ceremony in Canberra in November. The nomination was put forward by Karingal.
“The Alcoa- Karingal partnership represents an evolution in the process to create employment opportunities in an industrial manufacturing setting,” Karingal CEO Daryl Starkey said.
“Karingal’s Kommercial branch worked with Alcoa to improve access to meaningful work and training for people with a disability.
“In addition to the Kommercial relationship that we have had with Alcoa since 1993, Karingal has also enjoyed another wonderful relationship with Alcoa through our BacLinks initiative over the past eight years.”
The National Disability Awards are part of the Australian Government’s celebration of International Day of People with Disability, held on 3 December.
The annual awards celebrate and acknowledge the achievements and contributions individuals or groups with a disability make to our community.
The awards also recognise individuals or groups within our community who have contributed to the disability sector. Over 400 individuals and organisations were nominated across seven award categories, only 21 of which reached the finals.
Through the Alcoa and Karingal partnership, 30 people with disabilities are employed on-site at the Point Henry Smelter.
Daryl said the partnership had grown over the years and today Karingal supported employees manage the site’s mail service, land and gardening care, administrative support and the day-to-day running of the employee canteen – the Kommercial Café.
“In addition Point Henry employees frequently volunteer their time to complete valuable community projects through Karingal’s BacLinks branch,” Daryl said.
“We believe that Alcoa is a much deserved winner and they certainly deserve this national recognition in so many ways for the social outcomes and inclusion that our partnership has provided to both Karingal and Alcoa employees.”