Shaw Trust Merges With Australian Employment Charity

National employment charity Shaw Trust today 22 September 2009 merged with Interwork, an Australian employment charity.

Shaw Trust already has charitable interests in Romania and Poland and this merger is seen as an opportunity to share and develop experience and best practice in supporting disabled and disadvantaged people in employment internationally.

Interwork, which is based in South Australia, will operate as part of Shaw Trust and will retain its name. It is the largest specialist disability employment agency in South Australia.

Australian disability and mainstream employment programmes are the closest to the UK model than anywhere else in the world and around 4.5 million people in Australia are classified as having some form of disability or face considerable disadvantage is finding employment.

Bernie Jones, International Director of Shaw Trust comments:

“We are very excited by this move into Australia which we see very much as being in line with our charitable vision and mission. Interwork is a long established and respected welfare to work provider in Australia and we look forward to sharing experience and best practice.”

“This merger will help to strengthen the third sector’s position as a prime provider of welfare to work programmes on an international scale. Australian and UK welfare to work programmes have a great deal in common, offering us excellent opportunities to share and pool experience and best practice.”

Rosemary Wallage, Chief Executive of Interwork comments:

“This is an excellent opportunity to strengthen our position in Australia, and ensure that our collective experience is put to good use throughout the world.”

“This is an exciting move for our organisations and most importantly for the disabled and disadvantaged clients we support who will benefit from tailored, locally delivered support drawing on the best lessons from across the globe.”


ends

Notes to editors:

1. For further details, please contact Shaw Trust Press Manager Samantha Jobber on 01225 716300 or 07595 214649.

2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels. Across the UK around 1,400 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.

3. Founded in 1992, Interwork is South Australia’s largest specialist disability employment agency, providing employment programmes, services and support to people who experience disability, long term injury other life disadvantages. It has 120 staff and serves 1,500 clients every year.

4. If you would like to support the work that Shaw Trust does to help disabled and disadvantaged people find work and achieve independence please visit our website

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