RELATED: Big Giving Day one week away
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The Big Give is an event supporting central Victorian community groups. The Bendigo Advertiser will be profiling several of the registered campaigns each week until the initiative ends with a 24-hour giving day on September 1.
Chevonne Strauch has been working with Radius Disability Services for more than eight years.
She’s a whizz with a sewing machine, stitching together quilts and children’s clothing.
Three months ago, she also started working at Bank Australia.
The 26-year-old was working with titles, and was such a positive contribution to the team, they asked her to stay on a while longer.
“Next week I’m learning computer skills,” Miss Strauch said.
Her role at the bank was facilitated by Radius, which has been working with central Victorian businesses to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
The Champions Club was created to further the relationships between employers and people with a disability.
About 22,000 people with a disability are employed within Australian Disability Enterprises, Radius engagement manager Simone Baker said.
Radius, for example, works with about 130 supported employees across its sites in Bendigo, Eaglehawk and Strathdale.
“Of the 22,000 supported employees, only 0.01 per cent transition to open employment each year,” Ms Baker said.
The Champions Club aims to close that gap and help more people with disabilities achieve financial independence.
Scott Mclarty, of Radius, said the cost of assisting one supported employee to work towards achieving open employment was $2000.
The organisation aims to raise $8000 with its ‘Champions Club’ Big Give campaign.
Fundraising for the Big Give started on August 1 and ends on September 1.
The online initiative culminates in a 24-hour Big Giving Day, which Mr McLarty said Radius would celebrate at its premises in the Morley Johnson Building in Bendigo.
“The whole community is invited,” he said.
Radius is also the place to be for people who might not be confident with online donations.
Mr Mclarty said there would be support available to anybody who asked throughout the day, to donate to any campaign.
Partners in Training has committed $2000 to the Champions Club cause.
Campus manager Corina Reid said it was a demonstration of the organisation’s commitment to grow employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Miss Strauch said she was glad for the opportunities she had received.
“I’ve really loved having the opportunity to work with Bank Australia and I’d really love to thank them for having me on board,” she said.