community businesses

PRA has established seven businesses around Sydney which it operates under the Commonwealth Disability Employment Assistance Program. The Commonwealth has adopted the term "Australian Disability Enterprises" to market the services provided by these businesses. The organisations involved in the program are subsidised by the Commonwealth to provide supported employment to people with disabilities, and are required to meet a rigorous set of Service Standards to ensure employees with a disability receive a quality service that regards them with dignity and respect, and provides a real employment outcome, including a fair wage.

PRA's community businesses specialise in providing employment for people with a psychiatric disability. It is a demanding undertaking since there is a need to provide for the diverse expectations of employees and job seekers while meeting the everyday challenges of running a business in a competitive world.

PRA's policy is to offer employment in its businesses to anyone with a mental illness and/or psychiatric disability who is attempting an improved level of well being. The entry criteria for business services is that prospective employees:-

• Identify as having a mental illness/psychiatric disability.
• Are able to work under supervision and with other employees in a business like environment.
• Are willing to meet the requirements of a relevant workplace agreement.
• Are receiving support from a health care professional.

A three-month probationary period establishes the person's satisfaction with the service we offer, and the level of support they will require initially. Individual programs are designed to focus on goals and the responsibility shared between the business and the individual to try to attain those goals.

The business services PRA runs are:-

Prestige Packing Co.
This is PRA's main training and employment service, with factories in Redfern, Harris Park and West Ryde. The business offers packing and light assembly services. In addition, we are developing a range of own brand products to be produced in our factories for retail sales around Australia.

EnterPRAise
These are work crews operating out of Warwick Farm, Penrith and Parramatta. Services provided include gardening, cleaning and other home and business maintenance tasks.

Buckprint
This business provides a full range of commercial design and print, binding, laminating and plan printing services from its Surry Hills location.

Prestige Plans
This small business uses the latest print technology to provide high quality digital plan prints and scans from hard copy and electronic files for architectual and construction services.

Platform 10 Conference Centre
This business provides a customer focused day conference, seminar, training and videoconferencing service. It is located across the street from Redfern Railway Station, just ten minutes from Sydney airport and five minutes from the CBD. Platform 10 Conference Centre is Sydney's newest resource for meetings and training, with spectacular views over the city. For more details on Platform 10 contact Kerry Dixon on email: kerry.d@pra.org.au

In 2007/08, PRA's business services provided employment for over 400 people, and achieved sales of $2.275million. For more details of the services offered by PRA's businesses, contact Divisional Manager, Community Business on (02) 9690 8904, or email mohammed.a@pra.org.au