News and events
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Changes to the Mainstream salary subsidy on 1 July 2011
On 1 July 2011, the Mainstream salary subsidy changed. It is now 100% for the first year, and 80% for the second year for contracts signed after 30 June 2011. The change represents our genuine desire to make sure people with significant disabilities have a strong chance of gaining the skills and experience they need in the workforce.
Changes to Government departments on 1 February 2011
Several changes occurred within the State sector yesterday (1 February 2011).
The following were disestablished as departments:
- Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (functions transferred to the new Ministry of Science and Innovation)
- Archives New Zealand (functions transferred to Department of Internal Affairs)
- National Library (functions transferred to Department of Internal Affairs).
The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology was disestablished as a Crown Agent and its functions transferred to the new Ministry of Science and Innovation.
The Office of the Community and Voluntary Sector was transferred from the Ministry of Social Development to the Department of Internal Affairs.
The functions of the Government Chief Information Officer were transferred from the State Services Commission to the Department of Internal Affairs.
There were also some changes to tertiary institutions that came into effect on 1 January 2011:
- Tairawhiti Polytechnic merged with Eastern Institute of Technology
- Telford Rural Polytechnic merged with Lincoln University.
The changes have been made to our list of employers eligible to employ Mainstream participants.
Former Mainstream manager honoured
June 2010 - Mainstream congratulates disabilities advocate Mike Gourley, who received a Queen's Service Medal in this year's Queen's Birthday honours list.
Mike was the second manager of the Mainstream Employment Programme. He held the position for two years, from 1990 to 1992. It was under his management that the Programme first came to be called 'Mainstream' as part of an initiative to increase its profile in the public service. Mike says, 'We did a lot of work to promote the Programme, including designing a poster on 'Focus on Ability' to coincide with the Disability Pride month in 1991.'
Another of Mike's initiatives was to extend the Programme to include people with mental health issues.
Since then he has worked for Radio New Zealand and for SPARC where he has employed Mainstream participants.
Mike was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for his work in helping raise the profile of disability rights through his work at Radio New Zealand and as president of the Disabled Persons Assembly.
A sad goodbye to Todd Fernie - former participant and disability rights activist
We learned with sadness recently of the death of Todd Fernie, formerly of Auckland University of Technology. Todd started his career at AUT in July 2000 on the Mainstream Employment Programme. Like many of our participants, he just needed a chance to show his capability to his employer, and then he was off making his mark in the world. As well as being remembered for his enormous passion for his work, he will be remembered for his efforts to promote inclusion, and for the contribution he made to the disability sector.
Todd recently contributed a chapter in the book 'Towards Inclusive Learning in Higher Education: Developing Curricula for Disabled Students' by M Adams and S Brown (Eds), 2006. You can read some of his thoughts on disability and human rights here.
The Mainstream Team sends condolences to Todd's family, friends and colleagues.
Mainstream Placement Awards 2009
The Mainstream Employer of the Year 2009 is New Zealand Defence Force Headquarters in Wellington. Staff there have employed and gone out of their way to support a young woman with an intellectual disability. They are making sure she has plenty of training and work experience opportunities during her two-year placement on the Mainstream subsidy.
The Mainstream Placement Awards recognise excellence in supported employment practice by employers and placement specialists (from disability employment agencies) who have successfully placed a participant into work under the Mainstream Employment Programme.
Each year there is an award for the Employer of the Year and the Placement Specialist of the Year. Employers are nominated for the award by Mainstream participants and placement specialists are nominated by the Mainstream team at Employer Services, Work and Income National Office.
The merit and runner-up awards for Employer of the Year 2009 are:
- Ministry of Education, Wellington
- Work and Income Thames
- Bay of Plenty District Health Board.
The winners of the 2009 Mainstream Placement Awards were announced by Hon Paula Bennett, Minister for Social Development and Employment, at a ceremony in Wellington in November.
Pictured: Liz Smith (left) and Maria Neonakis representing New Zealand Defence Force, with Hon Paula Bennett
Placement Specialist of the Year
This year the winning Placement Specialist is Tony Pike of Workwise in Rotorua. Tony has a gift for supporting people in spite of adversity. If a placement goes wrong, he quickly assesses the situation and finds alternative solutions that support both the employer and the participant.
Tony was overseas at the time of the award, so it was accepted on his behalf by Adel Stephenson accepted the award on his behalf. On his return, Tony said
"I know that the placements that we have all supported have been hugely significant and positive events in participants' lives, allowing them to move forward with the confidence that they have much to contribute, and that there is a place for them in the wider (work) community."
A further award was made to Elevator, a placement agency in Auckland that has made the most placements this year. Work and Income Dunedin and the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Dunedin received a special award for working together to create successful placements for people with vision impairments.
Pictured: Adel Stephenson with Hon Paula Bennett
