Please note: Images in this article were taken before current COVID-19 safety measures were in place.
[Vision: Views over Yarra View Nursery showing car entering through gate - Bonsai seedlings]
Kristian Dauncey - Chief Executive Officer, Knoxbrooke Employment Service
Yarra View Nursery is a 12-acre nursery based in Mount Evelyn just in the outer reaches of Melbourne and it’s a beautiful setting.
At our nursery we employ 110 people, 85 of whom have a disability.
[Vision: Staff working with plants taking cuttings and checking stock]
Michael Ross - Employee, Yarra View Nursery
I go out and pick plants from out in the field, prepare them and clean them up.
It’s really fun working with all the colleagues and friends and working with plants.
[Vision: Michael working with plants]
And, it makes me feel really happy to come to work every day and doing what I do.
I enjoy it.
[Vision: Close-up view of various plants in the nursery - Kristian speaking - staff working with seedlings]
For us it’s just critical that we provide steady, regular, ongoing employment to assist people to build on their skills, to learn a whole variety of skills in running a nursery, and give those individuals an opportunity to move into general employment to work at other nurseries.
[Vision: Staff member measuring and planting cuttings]
People with disabilities are at often times in the community are underrated as terrific employees and people who really value work.
[Vision: Staff member cleaning pot - pots being placed on shelf]
Dani Read - Employee, Yarra View Nursery
Potting, choosing, cutting back, heaps of things, I just like doing it.
It makes me feel happy seeing all my friends and the staff.
[Vision: Close-up of cactus plant being planted]
The staff are friendly.
I’ve made heaps of friends, and I got a boyfriend out of it, yeah.
[The Victorian Connection - people, communities & the economy - for more news and stories go to connection.vic.gov.au]
[Victoria State Government / Jobs, Precincts and Regions - Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne]
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