8 July 2011

Spence Supermarket celebrates a year of employing Canberrans with mental health issues

| johnboy
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This media release has come over my desk and seems worthy of note:

The Spence Friendly Grocer Supermarket and Nexus Humans Services are celebrating the first birthday of their partnership, which creates employment opportunities for people living with a mental health issues via retail traineeships offered by the supermarket.

Nexus Human Services Chief Executive Officer Lisa McPherson-Sturt said the program had helped clients living with mental health issues to regain confidence and self-esteem as well as gain valuable workplace skills.

“We are very proud to have worked with Vince and Kathy Torcasio, the owners of the store, over the past year,” said Ms McPherson.

“Since our launch in June 2011, 12 people have been trained and employed at Spence friendly grocer as part of the initiative,

“Many of our trainees are still employed there, while others have been able to use the opportunity as a stepping stone to further employment,” said Ms McPherson-Sturt.

To celebrate they’re having a sausage sizzle from 9am to 12pm on Saturday 16 July with lucky door prizes, kid’s entertainment and the announcements of winners of the in-store competition.

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ToastFliesRED11:51 am 04 Nov 11

I love Spence Friendly Supermarket since Kathy and Vince re-opened the shop after it lay closed for so long. The staff, especially Kathy are always so friendly and they have a great range of food plus they go out of their way to source locally as well as more exotic items. they will always have my support and I will refuse to go to the 7-11 proposed to be built on the site of the mechanic workshop and autoelectrician next door and I feel sorry that they are being kicked out after providing a great local service

eyeLikeCarrots9:22 pm 08 Jul 11

Great effort Spence Supermarket.

It’s all well and good but supermarkets aren’t the most helpful environments for good mental health.

Great job…well done to all involved.

What a positive story. Love it!

Mental health issues are pretty-much the most confronting and difficult to deal with disabilities. So an employer, especially in a service industry, taking the trouble to employ them is excellent. sounds like Nexus is a bit like the old Advance Personnel, administering the various support programs, and mentoring the trainee in the job. It’s tough going and I’m very glad there’s people out there willing to take it on.

That’s great news! Well done the owners of Spence supermarket (and, btw – their deli there is superb!)

What a fantastic story – all credit to the management and staff there for making this happen!!

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