25 Years of Belonging

Sometimes the best employment outcomes aren’t about getting the job. They’re measured in years, relationships, contribution and a real sense of belonging. For Vince, that number is 25.

At 47, Vince has just reached an incredible milestone: 25 years working at Woolworths.

To recognise the occasion, his workplace organised a surprise in-store celebration, bringing together the people who have worked alongside him to acknowledge his contribution and what it means to have been part of a workplace for a quarter of a century.

Vince celebrates his Woolworths team and In Work Mentor, Fiona.

Among those there to celebrate was Fiona, Vince’s In Work Mentor from The Personnel Group. Fiona supports Vince through Ongoing Support, part of Inclusive Employment Australia, and connects with him in his workplace each week. Over time, that regular presence helps ensure Vince has support available when he needs it, while also maintaining a strong connection with his employer.

For Vince, who lives with an intellectual disability, Ongoing Support is about helping him continue doing something he has successfully done for many years: participate in open employment and remain a valued member of his workplace. The support is individualised to Vince and can include checking in on how things are going, supporting his wellbeing and confidence at work, responding to changes in the workplace and working collaboratively with his employer when additional support may be helpful.

This is an important part of what In Work Support looks like at The Personnel Group. Our In Work Mentors are place-based and spend much of their time outside our offices, travelling to workplaces and other locations to provide support where our customers are actually working. They build relationships with customers and employers, understand the individual workplace environment and remain connected as employment journeys evolve.

For some customers, that support may be needed for a shorter period as they settle into a new role. For others, like Vince, Ongoing Support can continue over the longer term, providing consistency and helping maintain sustainable employment.

But what makes Vince’s story particularly special is what his 25-year celebration represents. This was more than recognition of length of service. It reflected a workplace where Vince is known, valued and included. His employer saw an important milestone and made the effort to celebrate it with him. After 25 years, Vince isn’t simply a person with disability who has maintained employment; he is a long-standing employee, a colleague and part of his workplace community.

That is what genuine inclusion in employment can look like.

At The Personnel Group, we believe sustainable employment for people with disability is about more than helping someone secure a job. It is about working alongside people and employers so that employment can be maintained, workplace relationships can grow and people have the opportunity to contribute and thrive over the long term.

Sometimes that support is highly visible. Other times, it happens quietly in the background through a conversation, a workplace visit, a check-in or simply having someone available when circumstances change and sometimes, you get the privilege of being there for moments like this one.

Twenty-five years with one employer. A valued member of the team. A milestone genuinely celebrated.

Congratulations, Vince, on an incredible 25 years.