Our Nexus and SEED teams were pleased to welcome Health Minister Jacquie Petrusma and Liberal Candidate for Franklin, Natasha Miller, to our orchard in Huon, which has become a thriving hub of opportunity, empowerment, and community for Tasmanians with disability.
Ms Petrusma last visited the orchard in 2021 in her role as Minister for Disability Services and Community Development, when it looked very different. At that time, Nexus had just leased the property to provide our Customised Employment clients with training opportunities.
Since then, the orchard has also proven crucial in delivering our social enterprise, SEED’s mission to provide employment and training opportunities for people with disability.
“When I last visited the orchard, the team were so enthusiastic about getting started on making the orchard accessible and providing work and training opportunities,” Ms Petrusma said.
“To meet with the team again and be able to see just how much of a positive impact it has had on Tasmanians with disability and their families in just a few years is incredible.”
Since SEED began its journey in 2021, the orchard has been the launching point for what has grown into a broader initiative providing training and employment across multiple areas.
“It’s great to see how far SEED has expanded beyond this orchard. With their gardening and cleaning teams, and their new container deposit depot, I’m really looking forward to seeing how SEED continues to evolve to support their community”, Ms Petrusma said.
Nexus and SEED CEO Mark Jessop said that SEED has been “game-changing” for the people they work with.
“In four years, we have seen people build their confidence, independence, and employment skills. This orchard has been the first step into ongoing employment,” Mark said.
“A number of clients who began their employment journey here at the orchard are now leading the way at our new container return depot in Goodwood,” he said.
“The depot operates six days a week accepting containers in bulk so there are opportunities to develop skills in forklifting, logistics, machinery operations, and customer service.
“We are pleased to be able to continue to create employment opportunities for Tasmanians with disability that are meaningful and sustainable.”