WorkVentures
Encyclopedia
WorkVentures is an Australian independent not-for-profit social enterprise
, established in 1979 and employing more than 170 people across seven locations in Sydney and Melbourne. WorkVentures also works with partner organisations to deliver training and programs around the country.
WorkVentures’ vision is to build communities that work, and its mission is to be a catalyst for social change by undertaking new initiatives to empower disadvantaged people to build positive futures.
In 2002, WorkVentures was one of the four organisations that established Social Ventures Australia.
In 2005, WorkVentures and Microsoft Australia won the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnership, Longevity category for their 19-year partnership.
Until June 2009, WorkVentures was a provider of employment services in the Job Network
.
In 2010, former CEO and Founder Steve Lawrence was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia
(AO) in the 2010 Australia Day Honours list. Steve was awarded his honour for his service to the community through leadership roles in the development and implementation of not-for-profit ventures to create social change, particularly for youth and the long-term unemployed.
, Claymore
and Macquarie Fields
in south-west Sydney. The Connect Centres provide local residents free access to computers, training and job search support.
WorkVentures also works with community partners to deliver technology-focused programs such as its iGetIT! computer hardware training for indigenous and disadvantaged youth, and the i.settle.with.IT! program to improve the software skills and employment opportunities for refugees and migrants. The i.settle.with.IT program was highly commended in the Social Inclusion category in the 2010 University of Technology, Sydney
Human Rights Awards for its work as a community partner for Dr Linda Leung. Dr Leung was highly commended for her work in generating new knowledge about the importance of technology in refugees’ forced migration and resettlement experiences, which is now informing settlement programs for refugee communities.
WorkVentures works in remote communities, and has worked in partnership to supply computers, technical support and iGetIT! training in computer maintenance for the Indigenous Technology and Knowledge Centres at Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal
on the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland.
WorkVentures’ social enterprises include the Sydney ITeC Repair Centre (SIRC), with locations in Sydney and Melbourne. SIRC is one of the largest suppliers in Australia of electronic repair services to companies such as banks, retailers and telecommunications companies. Equipment repaired include computers and computer peripherals, power supplies, automatic teller machines, scanners, parking meters and telecommunication equipment.
SIRC also supplies the technical support for WorkVentures' Connect IT program, which offers low cost refurbished PCs to low income households (mainly Centrelink
cardholders), schools and non-profit organisations across Australia. Corporations and government donate their fleets of used PCs that are then either refurbished by SIRC or recycled. WorkVentures is a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher so the PCs are loaded with Microsoft software and are promoted through distribution partners including Centrelink. Originally established in 2002, Connect IT delivered its 20,000th low cost PC in July 2009.
WorkVentures is a vocational education
and training provider, offering a traineeship program to create entry-level training opportunities. It is a registered Group Training Organisation, which means it complies with the Australian National Standards for Group Training Organisations. WorkVentures is also a Registered Training Organisation
accredited by the NSW Vocational Educational and Training Accreditation Board.
Social enterprise
A social enterprise is an organization that applies business strategies to achieving philanthropic goals. Social enterprises can be structured as a for-profit or non-profit....
, established in 1979 and employing more than 170 people across seven locations in Sydney and Melbourne. WorkVentures also works with partner organisations to deliver training and programs around the country.
WorkVentures’ vision is to build communities that work, and its mission is to be a catalyst for social change by undertaking new initiatives to empower disadvantaged people to build positive futures.
History
WorkVentures started in 1979 as Peninsula Community Services, based in the Malabar/La Perouse area in Sydney's south-east. The organisation initially ran a range of programs including holiday programs, a recycling venture, and other community-based projects, however from 1984 onwards the focus has been on employment, training, and technical services.In 2002, WorkVentures was one of the four organisations that established Social Ventures Australia.
In 2005, WorkVentures and Microsoft Australia won the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnership, Longevity category for their 19-year partnership.
Until June 2009, WorkVentures was a provider of employment services in the Job Network
Job Network
Job Services Australia is an Australian Government-funded network of organisations that is contracted by the Australian Government, through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations , to deliver employment services to unemployed job seekers on Government income...
.
In 2010, former CEO and Founder Steve Lawrence was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AO) in the 2010 Australia Day Honours list. Steve was awarded his honour for his service to the community through leadership roles in the development and implementation of not-for-profit ventures to create social change, particularly for youth and the long-term unemployed.
Community activities
WorkVentures works in the community through several different channels, including three Connect Centres located in public housing estates in AirdsAirds, New South Wales
Airds is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Airds is located 56 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Campbelltown and is part of the Macarthur region....
, Claymore
Claymore, New South Wales
Claymore is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Claymore is located 54 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Campbelltown and is part of the Macarthur region. The majority of housing in Claymore is...
and Macquarie Fields
Macquarie Fields, New South Wales
Macquarie Fields is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Macquarie Fields is located 42 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Campbelltown and is part of the Macarthur region.Macquarie Fields has a mix...
in south-west Sydney. The Connect Centres provide local residents free access to computers, training and job search support.
WorkVentures also works with community partners to deliver technology-focused programs such as its iGetIT! computer hardware training for indigenous and disadvantaged youth, and the i.settle.with.IT! program to improve the software skills and employment opportunities for refugees and migrants. The i.settle.with.IT program was highly commended in the Social Inclusion category in the 2010 University of Technology, Sydney
University of Technology, Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney is a university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1981, although its origins trace back to the 1870s. UTS is notable for its central location as the only university with its main campuses within the Sydney CBD...
Human Rights Awards for its work as a community partner for Dr Linda Leung. Dr Leung was highly commended for her work in generating new knowledge about the importance of technology in refugees’ forced migration and resettlement experiences, which is now informing settlement programs for refugee communities.
WorkVentures works in remote communities, and has worked in partnership to supply computers, technical support and iGetIT! training in computer maintenance for the Indigenous Technology and Knowledge Centres at Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal
Wujal Wujal
Wujal Wujal is in northern Queensland, Australia. Wujal Wujal is the name of a relatively small Aboriginal community on the north and south sides of the Bloomfield River. It has an area of 19.94 square kilometres of land. At the 2006 census, Wujal Wujal had a population of 326.It is located...
on the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland.
Social enterprises
WorkVentures operates social enterprises that support the financial sustainability of the organisation as well as extend its mission. This has been done through partnerships with governments, businesses, and the community.WorkVentures’ social enterprises include the Sydney ITeC Repair Centre (SIRC), with locations in Sydney and Melbourne. SIRC is one of the largest suppliers in Australia of electronic repair services to companies such as banks, retailers and telecommunications companies. Equipment repaired include computers and computer peripherals, power supplies, automatic teller machines, scanners, parking meters and telecommunication equipment.
SIRC also supplies the technical support for WorkVentures' Connect IT program, which offers low cost refurbished PCs to low income households (mainly Centrelink
Centrelink
Centrelink is the trading name of the Commonwealth Service Delivery Agency , a statutory authority responsible for delivering human services on behalf of agencies of the Commonwealth Government of Australia. The majority of Centrelink's services are the disbursement of social security payments...
cardholders), schools and non-profit organisations across Australia. Corporations and government donate their fleets of used PCs that are then either refurbished by SIRC or recycled. WorkVentures is a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher so the PCs are loaded with Microsoft software and are promoted through distribution partners including Centrelink. Originally established in 2002, Connect IT delivered its 20,000th low cost PC in July 2009.
WorkVentures is a vocational education
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
and training provider, offering a traineeship program to create entry-level training opportunities. It is a registered Group Training Organisation, which means it complies with the Australian National Standards for Group Training Organisations. WorkVentures is also a Registered Training Organisation
Registered training organisation
A registered training organisation in Australia, is a vocational education organisation that provides students with training that results in qualifications and statements of attainment that are recognised and accepted by industry and other educational institutions throughout Australia.Registered...
accredited by the NSW Vocational Educational and Training Accreditation Board.
External links
- WorkVentures' official site at www.workventures.com.au
- SIRC's official site, a WorkVentures social enterprise at www.sirc.com.au