Western District Employment Access (WDEA) was established in Warrnambool in 1989 as an Employment Agency for people with disabilities. From humble beginnings with a small office housing just three staff, WDEA now provides a full range of employment services across  eight sites. Our organisation employs around 100 staff.

WDEA is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation that is governed by a local committee of management. Members of the committee bring a variety of skills with them including management, marketing, financial, legal and disability support.

Charitable Trust
The WDEA Charitable Trust was formed in 2004 and distributes approximately $50,000 each year to successful applicants across western Victoria. The Trust has distributed more than $230,000 to worthy community projects since its inception.

The WDEA Charitable Trust aims to assist people with disabilities, or those highly disadvantaged by other factors, to achieve employment or access to employment opportunities.

Funds are distributed twice yearly with applications closing on March 31 and September 30 each year. To find out more about the WDEA Charitable Trust click here.

INTEG Lawn Mowing Crew
WDEA runs a small lawn mowing crew in Terang, employing six staff. This small business has been running for 20 years and provides an excellent local community service to the Terang district.

Art Options
The Art Options program runs out of the Mill Market complex in Warrnambool. This program provides an outlet for people with a disability. In essence, the Art Options program offers transitional training to help prepare some participants to move into employment or further training.

Socialisers
The Socialisers was formed as a social group for people with a disability who could either access the community independently or attend with the support of a carer or parent. WDEA donates $4000 a year to assist the group meet its costs and purchase equipment. The Socialisers have been in operation for 17 years and continue to meet monthly with an additional monthly outing. The group’s membership base currently sits at around 60, with ages spanning from 18 to 50-plus years. New members are welcome at any time.

Community South West
WDEA is a foundation member of Community South West which consists of nine of south west Victoria’s larger not-for-profit organisations.

The purpose of Community South West is:  ‘To be a powerful influence in developing stronger communities, fairer and more self-dependent local communities’.

The benefits of such a group are many, but in a practical sense the ability to cut costs by group purchasing, creating centres of excellences in Human Resources, Information Technology, research and purchasing offer immediate benefits for members.  
For further information on Community SouthWest visit www.communitysouthwest.com.

Community Projects
WDEA staff frequently become involved in their local communities. Recent activities have included a joint effort on the part of the Portland office staff to raise more than $4000 for the ‘Make a Wish Foundation’. WDEA’s Warrnambool staff joined together with Bunnings warehouse and local radio station, 3YB/Coast FM, to complete a much-needed ‘make over’ at the Warrnambool Community School.