House with No Steps (now Aruma) named 2016 NSW Large Employer of the Year

We’re thrilled proud to be the winner of the NSW Training Award for the 2016 Large Employer of the Year.

We have a strong focus on training. Our Registered Training Organisation (RTO) conducts highly specialised training with our 2500 employees, as well as the people we support every day.

“We’re honoured to be named NSW 2016 Large Employer of the Year,” said CEO, Andrew Richardson. “This is an exciting time for people with a disability. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) changes everything for them, and for us. We’re a people organisation so ultimately we need the right people with the right skills in the right place. That’s why our commitment to training is so important.”

The rollout of the NDIS across NSW will create an employment boom, with approximately 25000 jobs in the disability sector now available. Having a well-trained workforce is essential to not only the success of the NDIS, but to the enrichment of the lives of people living with disability, their families and carers by providing the highest levels of service and support.

Our experience with the NDIS in the Hunter and ACT trial sites highlighted the vital role that well trained, passionate staff play in helping people with a disability achieve great life outcomes. As a result, over the past year our RTO delivered increased staff training which included accredited training, leadership development and customer service training to ensure House with No Steps (now Aruma) employees have well-developed skills. The Workplace English Language Literacy (WELL) program was also completed by 378 of our support staff, and has improved their oral and written communication skills.

Following the launch of the NDIS in the Hunter region we took the opportunity to upskill our Australian Disability Enteprise (ADE) employees by providing them with high quality accredited training. A Lean training program improved the productivity and quality outcomes in these businesses, ultimately enhancing the service they provide to their customers.

“Our investment in training is really producing tangible results. We’re seeing productivity improvements, a lift in staff engagement, and most importantly a greater willingness of staff to embrace and welcome change, and that’s a great place to be as we head into the full roll out of the NDIS,” Mr Richardson said.