Page 4380 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 22 September 2010
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Alongside the government showing leadership, other things we are already doing include BLITS, which stands for business leaders’ innovative thoughts and solutions. BLITS consists of high-profile members of our community who have a position of influence and who come from a variety of backgrounds, including the entertainment sector, the arts sector, the business sector and the public sector and who focus on promoting activities and events that value and engage people with a disability, including as employees and employers in business.
BLITS continues to raise awareness of the presence of and contribution that people with a disability make across business, sports and the arts. I note that this year 43 nominees from across business, sports and the arts were received for the Chief Minister’s inclusion awards. Furthermore, BLITS is currently undertaking a significant piece of work, to be rolled out over the next two years.
The BLITS tick is an accreditation program, offering hospitality, tourism and the retail sector the opportunity to be publicly acknowledged as a disability accessible and friendly business. Additionally, we recognise that employment in the public service is not the only option, and ACT Procurement Solutions are working with Disabilities ACT to actively promote the uptake of social tendering, including the role which can be played by Australian Disability Enterprises in government contracting. We also support the ACT social enterprise hub, through funding and working closely with them, to develop a range of initiatives to support the establishment of a range of social enterprises.
I was pleased earlier this year to launch Ronnie’s Succulent Snails, a small business enterprise established by a young man called Ronnie Lawrence. From memory, I think Amanda Bresnan was there. I had my first snail race on that particular day. It was a slow spectacle on the day, but still, it did provide—
Mr Hargreaves: Did you win?
MS BURCH: No, I did not win, unfortunately.
Mr Hargreaves: Were you too quick?
MS BURCH: Maybe I was too quick. It is not a habit of mine, I can say, but never mind. I was pleased, as I said, to launch Ronnie’s Succulent Snails. Ronnie Lawrence is a young man with significant disabilities who now has his own business, supported by his family, farming escargots and selling them to a national distribution group for restaurants.
Another example is Paperworks, a small social enterprise that produces high quality paper products and sells them locally. This enterprise provides training in the art of paper-making, along with marketing and sales skills for people with a disability.
Other initiatives include innovation and quality of life grants, one-off direct grants that support people with a disability to buy specialist equipment, additional support or to try opportunities that otherwise they would not be able to afford. A number of these
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