"To have someone with passion and drive is one of the things that we aim for as an employer, and, you know, they're members of the community, and we're all about community where we are."
Full episode transcripts here:
Meleah McInnes: My name's Meleah McInnes, and I'm the GM at Abermain Bowling Club located in the Hunter Valley.
Interviewer: What does disability mean to you?
Meleah McInnes: I don't really look at disability, I look more at ability. I don't really focus on the dis part , if that makes sense .
Interviewer: Why hire people with a disability?
Meleah McInnes: Again, I never really focused on the dis part. I'm more focused on the ability, and we needed employees and they need an employer. That was pretty much it .
Interviewer: What are the benefits of hiring someone with a disability?
Meleah McInnes: They want the job, they want to work. They enjoy what they do. They've got a passion usually for what they do. That's the big kicker. They really want to do what they're doing. To have someone with passion and drive is one of the things that we aim for as an employer, and, you know, they're members of the community, and we're all about community where we are.
Interviewer: What does having a job mean to someone with a disability?
Meleah McInnes: Independence, that's all they strive for. Nine times out of 10, they want independence. They want to feel like they're part of something and be independent, you know, have their own income stream and feel like they're involved in something bigger.
Interviewer: What if a participant is nervous about starting work?
Meleah McInnes: Don't be nervous. Everyone's nervous. Whether you've got a disability or an ability, everyone's nervous their first few days, and we'll make you feel at home. You're part of a team.
Interviewer: How has your overall journey with Castle been?
Meleah McInnes: Wonderful. I think I've built lifelong friendships with some of the teams from castle, and, oh, there's such a supportive team, not just to the people that they're sending into our workplace but a supportive team for us as the employer.
Interviewer: Why are some employers reluctant to hire someone with a disability?
Meleah McInnes: Probably- I really don't know, because I've never looked at it from their perspective. I don't know why you'd be reluctant. There's a lot of places out there that need staff at the moment, and there's a lot of people out there that need jobs at the moment, and Castle have those people, so.