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Grants To Improve Business AccessGrants are now available to help Gippsland business and community organisations be more accessible. By Bass Coast - 9th March 2012 - Back to News The grants program funded through Office for Disability (Department of Human Services) aims to improve access and inclusion for people with a disability. Applications for the program close on 28 March 2012.
The program was launched this month at the ‘Gippsland Employers Making a Difference’ (GEMAD) Breakfast in Traralgon hosted by RuralAccess Gippsland, the Department of Human Services and WorkSolutions Gippsland.
Bass Coast Shire Council’s Community Strengthening Manager, Antoinette Mitchell said the breakfast attracted a diverse range of businesses and organisations from across Gippsland and highlighted some great opportunities to increase accessibility.
"People attending the breakfast learned about developing and growing their organisations by employing people with a disability and people from diverse backgrounds.
"There was a panel of Gippsland employers who had successfully included people with a disability into their workforce on hand to provide advice.
"Council has made a strong commitment to increasing access for people with disability, through our Disability Action Plan," explained Ms Mitchell.
"Funding programs such as this are very much in line with the aims of our Plan and we encourage Bass Coast businesses and organisations to take advantage of the program."
Business and organisations across Gippsland can apply for funding of up to $500 to help increase the number of people with a disability accessing their business as customers, members or employees.
To be eligible for a grant, a business or organisation must be located in the Gippsland Region, develop a simple plan of intended actions to improve access and inclusion for people with a disability, and work in partnership with their local RuralAccess Officer.
"Examples of proposals could include making some alterations to your premises to provide improved access for all or providing information to your customers in different formats, for example large print menus," explained Ms Mitchell.
"Council has RuralAcess Officer, Ms Kathryn Pryor, who can help you every step of the way with your application."
Grant applications close on 28 March 2012.
If your business or community organisation is interested in improving access and inclusion of people with a disability, please contact Ms Pryor on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or email ruralaccess@basscoast.vic.gov.au to discuss your ideas and for assistance with the application process.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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