| About Phoenix Society - Our History
In the late fifties, a group of interested people
met to determine if there was any future for a Society to be established
solely for the employment of the physically handicapped.
From the subsequent creation of a vision by some
hard-working people, an inaugural meeting of Phoenix Society was
held on 26th May, 1958.
The Society was established and its aim was
“to help the physically handicapped to help themselves”.
Hence, in May, 1958, the Society was born and, by May, 1959, its
operations had commenced.
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Gordon
Reid
Co-founder and Life Governor
Phoenix Society |
THE SIXTIES
The first premise owned by the Society was
an old cottage in Carrington Street, Adelaide.
Seeking work for the sixteen employees at the
time, the Society first contracted with S.A. Brewing Company for
the repair of forty crates, at a total cost of seventeen cents
each.
Subsequently, additional contracts were found
that were suitable to the needs and employment aspirations of
the physically disabled employees at the time.
Within a couple of years, the Society had a
complement of forty-five employees, again, mainly physically disabled
people.
Activity levels were growing and, with the
assistance of Government, the Society moved to larger premises
on Glen Osmond Road.
Different types of work were introduced into
the Society, including Woodworking and assembly functions. Jobs
were being found in a competitive market, at market rates, and
the Society was structuring itself for the future in being a quality
service provider, which produced quality goods.
By the end of the sixties, the Society had
developed a workforce of 85.
In 1967, the “Handicapped Persons Assistance
Act” was passed, enabling the Society to access 2-for-1
funding for Capital works.
Through the Act, the Society was able to purchase
a new site in Ashwin Parade, Torrensville, where it currently
stands today, which was capable of providing space and accessibility
for different types of work.
THE SEVENTIES
The new Facility at Torrensville was opened
on April 7th, 1970.
The Society was becoming more professional
every day.
Major South Australian companies, including
SABCO and NAMCO, were supporting the work of the Society by providing
work opportunities.
Phoenix was continually sourcing new work opportunities
for greater numbers of people.
By the mid seventies, the Society appointed
a greater management structure, with its first Chief Executive.
In addition, it built a separate Assessment
Centre, to form the base of the Society’s Rehabilitation
Program. This program encompassed social, educational, recreational
and cultural activities.
THE EIGHTIES
The early eighties saw sales for the Society
advance rapidly and the number of employees increase to as many
as 324.
A third site was established at Gepps Cross
to provide employment opportunities for people living in the Northern
region.
The types of disability had changed dramatically.
From an initial Vision of “helping the handicapped to help
themselves”, the Society was now structured to assist, predominantly,
intellectual disability in employment settings.
Through the early to mid eighties, the Society
developed its professional approach to obtain work and provide
work-based skills. Employee numbers grew and wages were a major
issue for maximisation.
Employee groups were established and employees
were becoming more independent in their everyday employment.
In 1987, the “Disability Services Act”
was established which saw a need for dramatic change within employment
service delivery for people with disabilities.
Early scares were thrown at Sheltered Workshops
with the release of the “Disability Services Act”
where large organisations such as Phoenix were threatened with
closure if they did not reduce their size.
The employee numbers reduced during this period
as some of our employees took the opportunity to re-assess their
employment position.
THE NINETIES
No doubt the 1990’s have seen the most
dramatic growth in the Society’s operations over the last
forty years.
Recognising an trend within government to reduce
dependence on Government funding, the Society responded to the
need to maximise its own funding potential.
Phoenix focused on becoming more productive.
It now operated as a business service, as distinct from a traditional
sheltered workshop, evolving to become a genuine place of employment
for people with disabilities who choose not to move to Open Employment.
The establishment of Internationally Accredited
Quality Systems have seen the single biggest change in the Commercial
operations of the Society.
Likewise, our involvement in Workcover Safety
programs (ultimately leading to winning the Award as the Outstanding
Achiever in the Safety Achiever Bonus Scheme in 1996) was a reflection
of our dramatic change.
Employee involvement in everyday decision-making,
including Committees, Enterprise Development, Board, etc., combined
with a much more aware and professional staff also contributed
to our evolution.
As a result, the Society has become much more
than an organisation that employs people with disabilities.
It is a fast-growing business unit that provides
employment opportunities for a prescribed group of people.
THE NEW MILLENIUM
Phoenix Society continues to develop the strength
it has built up over 40 years.
In the years 2000-2002, Phoenix made strategic
directional changes in its overall structure.
Identifying specific areas of unmet need for
people with intellectual and other disabilities, Phoenix has deliberately
re-structured all of its facilities.
We opened new commercial factories in Elizabeth
and Whyalla that will, ultimately, provide employment support
for in excess of 200 people.
At the same time, we streamlined the operations
of our Torrensville and Gepps Cross facilities into efficient,
productive and “state of the art” operations.
THE FUTURE
The early Vision of 1958 continues.
We exist to help and support people with disabilities.
The manner in which we do this may have changed
and the outcomes that we achieve are continually evolving.
But the one thing that never changes is our
charter: to provide opportunities for people who otherwise may
not be given a go.
The Society is financially strong, professional
and well-respected - both locally and nationally.
With the continued support of the community
and our strategic partners, we plan to continue delivering outstanding
outcomes for many more people with disabilities in South Australia
for many years to come.
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