Shaw Trust merges with Australian employment charity

Press release:

National employment charity Shaw Trust today 22 September 2009 merged with Interwork, an Australian employment charity.

Shaw Trust already has charitable interests in Romania and Poland and this merger is seen as an opportunity to share and develop experience and best practice in supporting disabled and disadvantaged people in employment internationally.

Interwork, which is based in South Australia, will operate as part of the Shaw Trust and will retain its name. It is the largest specialist disability employment agency in South Australia.

Australian disability and mainstream employment programmes are the closest to the UK model than anywhere else in the world and around 4.5 million people in Australia are classified as having some form of disability or face considerable disadvantage is finding employment.

Bernie Jones, International Director of Shaw Trust comments:

“We are very excited by this move into Australia which we see very much as being in line with our charitable vision and mission. Interwork is a long established and respected welfare to work provider in Australia and we look forward to sharing experience and best practice.”

“This merger will help to strengthen the third sector’s position as a prime provider of welfare to work programmes on an international scale. Australian and UK welfare to work programmes have a great deal in common, offering us excellent opportunities to share and pool experience and best practice.”

Rosemary Wallage, Chief Executive of Interwork comments:

“This is an excellent opportunity to strengthen our position in Australia, and ensure that our collective experience is put to good use throughout the world.”

“This is an exciting move for our organisations and most importantly for the disabled and disadvantaged clients we support who will benefit from tailored, locally delivered support drawing on the best lessons from across the globe.”