THE challenge has been set. NOVA launched its ‘100 Jobs in 100 Days’ campaign last week, joining forces with local employers to place 100 people with disabilities in to paid work within 100 days.
Jobs seekers, NOVA staff and local employers gathered at Windsor RSL last Friday for the launch, where they learnt more about NOVA, its success in placing clients into work and their objectives with their current campaign.
The 100 jobs in 100 days program was successful in placing 130 job seekers into paid work last year, and NOVA CEO Martin Wren is hoping for the same success this year.
“The idea behind 100 Jobs in 100 Days is to catch the public’s imagination that we can provide an opportunity for people with a disability to prove themselves as workers,” Mr Wren said.
“The launch provides an opportunity to show some examples of people who have been successful in gaining employment, talk to some employers who have successfully employed people with a disability and network with those who are keen to get a job.”
NOVA client Martin Hvam, 26, from South Windsor attended the launch last week and spoke of his recent success in gaining work placement with Fairfax at its print site in North Richmond.
Mr Hvam has worked in several sections of the print site, and said he was hopeful of gaining permanent placement in the future.
“NOVA is great, they have really helped me since I left school,” he said. “I like everything about my job at Fairfax.”
Mr Wren said the response from Hawkesbury businesses to their 100 Jobs in 100 Days campaign has been overwhelming.
He praised Hawkesbury businesses for their willingness to give people with a disability a chance.
“The response to the program has been fabulous, specifically in the Hawkesbury,” Mr Wren said.
“You can talk about community spirit, but you can actually see it in operation here. We have a large group of employers who are prepared to give people with a disability a go, and that’s all they really need – a fair go.”
