By Brendan Rees
Some of the South-East region’s best businesses are vying for this year’s Casey Cardinia Business Awards. In the lead up to the gala presentation dinner on Friday 27 October, Star News will profile the nominees in each category, this week focusing on Tourism and Social Enterprise.
TOURSIM
TravAbility
Cardinia’s TravAbility is a full service travel agency, travel industry consultancy and a Disability Inclusive Stock Image Library.
Co-founder Bill Forrester said that the company’s mission was to be an agent of change, to inspire people who have never travelled before to do so, and to inspire others to do more.
“To encourage all cultures of the world to see disability as an integral part of life, and to provide the motivation and tools to the tourism industry to allow them to create accessible environments that enable inclusion in an economically sustainable way,” he said.
Cardinia Beaconhills Golf Links
Cardinia Beaconhills Golf Links is a 27-hole picturesque golf course in Upper Beaconsfield.
The golf club offers not just golf but also foot golf and hire of the venue for local functions.
It also offers golf lessons from a PGA professional and plenty of opportunities throughout the year for juniors and women clinics.
Club manager Fiza Errington said the club’s green fees were one of the best value for money deals on offer from $20 for nine holes and “we offer a wide range of membership options to cater for different needs”.
“The whole venue is available for hire for any functions including weddings, catering for up to 200 standing guests with a fully functional kitchen and bar.
“Footgolf is a fun sport, playing with a soccer ball on the golf course, starting from $13 a game.
“Beaconhills is more than just a golf club. We pride on being a community club, working with local businesses and offering more than just golf,” Ms Errington said.
Safir Tours
Safir Tours offers a complete array of inbound tourism services geared to a wide range of travellers from various parts of the world.
Safir Tours chief executive Nayaz Noor said the company provides an end-to-end solution for independent travellers, family groups, meetings, conferences and incentive groups.
Safir Tours is helping to sell the Australian university experience to prospective students from India with the company organising a national tour for 49 visiting students including a stop at Federation University in Berwick on 3 October.
Mr Noor said Australia was an attractive option. It was easier for students to get visas, relatively cheap for fees and cost of living, and was known as the “safest place in the world”.
“Australia is a land of immigrants, so it’s easier for international students to fit in.”
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Casey and District Multiple Birth Association
Casey and District Multiple Birth Association (CDMBA) is a not for profit association, totally managed by volunteers, and has been providing parent to parent support to multiple birth families in the Casey, Cardinia, Gippsland and Dandenong regions for 30 years.
All volunteers have walked in the footsteps of a new multiple birth family and know the value of a listening ear and a compassionate conversation.
The support and assistance is provided in a number of ways to families with twins, triplets or more – from the antenatal stage through to schooling years and beyond.
“We have been operating in the outer south eastern suburbs of Melbourne for 30 years, supporting the needs of families with twins, triplets and more – through playgroups, social events and information for all new multiple birth families in Casey and Cardinia,” said CDMBA membership secretary Monica Rankin.
“We provide information and support to families from the time they discover they are expecting multiples, right through the school years and into adolescence and adulthood.”
Waverley Industries
Waverley Industries empowers people with a disability and enhances their lives by providing them with meaningful high quality employment.
The not-for-profit organisation’s Human Resources Officer Noella Malabar said people found working in their team to be “exceptionally rewarding and an experience second to none.”
Ms Malabar said the company was in its 33rd year of operation and employed more than 270 people with special needs “empowering and enhancing their lives by offering them meaningful employment opportunities in packaging, assembly, storage and warehouse and hospitality and catering”.
Waverley Industries also offers on-site training, work experience and volunteering opportunities to people from all walks of life.
Waverley Industries prides itself on the quality of service it provides to its customers. As Ms Malabar explained, the business’s mission was to be the leading Australian disability enterprise and a major influence in the broader community for the advancement and social inclusion of people with a disability.
Kare One Pty Ltd
Kare One is a privately owned company that delivers homecare, personal care and respite care throughout the south and south eastern regions of Melbourne.
“We pride ourselves on delivering quality care through careful carer placement, focusing on teamwork and recognition of the individuality of all parties involved,” said Kare One’s founder Joanne (Jodie) King.
Kare One also offered an emergency 24-hour on call service which is delivered in-house, ensuring that clients and carers alike have direct accessibility to services and support.
The company’s services included personal/ attendant care, home care, respite care, companionship, community access, live-in care, home safe services and general home maintenance for a whole range of different types of people.
“It also recognises the importance of flexibility, diversity and open communication to meet continual market change and tight budgetary constraints.
“Our care team is managed by Rita Barratt, whose empathetic approach and field knowledge enhance and streamline our care co-ordination procedures, support and mentoring of staff and client focused care deliverance,” Ms King said.
