Lithgow laundry delivering the goods
This advertiser content for Access Industries.
A busy commercial laundry in Lithgow will be making sure the hotel rooms of many of the region's 4.5 to six star hotels will be resplendent with crisp white sheets and fluffy white towels this Christmas.
But there's a whole lot more behind what goes on at the Access Industries business than the 15,000 sheets and 20,000 towels that are laundered each week.
The high tech laundry, which processes around 30 tonne of linen a week, gives many local residents meaningful job opportunities and as anyone who lives with a disability will know, these can often be hard to find.
Just ask Emmanuel (pictured). He says 'The laundry is just like family. It's good'.
Manager of the Access Industries operated laundry, Tony Mitchell, backs up Emmanuel's statement and says the laundry provides not only employment opportunity, but the chance to connect with other members of the community and build social networks.
"Our major aim is to have all people who live with a disability have the opportunity to fulfill their career expectations but also enrich their lives," he said.
This is achieved through the provision of supported employment. Some 35 staff members (75 per cent) are supported staff. This means they will have someone by their side to help them navigate the complexities of mastering the high tech machinery required to handle the large volumes of linen.
It also means advice and assistance with creating an employment plan that suits their capabilities and other help where it's needed – be it personal issues, taking up social opportunities or working with the NDIS.
"It's really critical we are able to offer flexibility," said Tony.
"Our shifts for our supported staff will vary. There are eight hour shifts per week through to a full 38 hour week – it all depends on what the individual can cope with.
"We operate some of the latest high tech machinery available with opportunities for all staff to learn and commence operation of these machines."
The business has been providing commercial laundry services to the Blue Mountains area since 1978 and are picking up and delivering to areas throughout the lower Blue Mountains, Katoomba, Lithgow and Wolgan Valley.
"Our supported staff are part of the whole process. For example they are encouraged to accompany our delivery drivers and participate in meeting customers whilst delivering and collecting the linen," said Tony.
"We offer a high quality service and high quality products and we pride ourselves on this. Our reputation is the responsibility of all of our employees and this is fundamental to our success."
"And our employees are a testament to our success as our quality management systems and procedures are continuously tested and audited by our customers."
More information here.
This advertiser content for Access Industries.
