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A VIEW FROM THE TOP!
Highlands Personnel is an employment agency that specialises in looking after the special needs of people with a disability. Youth@bility spoke to Chief Executive Officer of Highlands Personnel, Mel Warner to find out what is Highlands all about. Highlands Personnel began in 1991/92 as part of the Brotherhood of Saint Laurence. After the Brotherhood withdrew services from Ballarat, Highlands formed a committee of management in December 1996, and proceeded to run under its own banner. Some of the programmes that Highlands has been providing to its clients have been; pre- vocational training, Auslan Interpreting services, the running of the Ballan Railway Station and 'Highlands For Hire' who provide a range of services including, Wood Delivery, Packing bagged wood and Labour Hire Services. Another particular service provided by Highlands Personnel is YouthAbility, which caters for young people aged from 15 to 24 years. YouthAbility was formed after CEO Mel Warner and Highlands Development Manager Wendy Oliver decided that a program was required to help young people with a disability. One of the benefits of being a consumer of Highlands is that you are able to put forward your point of view through consumer meetings, which are run by the consumer representatives on the board of management at Highlands Personnel. Mr Warner is married with four children, two of whom have grown up. Mr Warner also told us at Youth@bility that he has just become a Grandfather for the first time. Another important part of Mel's life are his dogs, which are a German breed of gun dog. In his spare time he likes to go hunting with his dogs. Quite a lot of his time outside work is also spent doing various community activities. He is Chairman of the local branch of the Australian Institute Of Management. He is also chairman of ACROD, which is a committee, related to open employment issues. He is also the treasurer of the Central Highlands Gun Dog Club. Nick Pollock BRENDAN
SPICER
Brendan Spicer is one of three Youth@bility Case Managers at Highlands Personnel, working along side Jenny Jones and Jamie Govan. His role is to help young people up to the age of 25 find placements in the working environment in the form of training or work experience that may lead to future employment. Brendan has recently joined Highlands Personnel, and is involved in the YouthAbility program. Brendan has previously worked as a volunteer with adults with disabilities and as an integration aide for students with disabilities at Ballarat Secondary College. Brendan believes he gets the most enjoyment from his success in seeing clients achieving their goals, and getting where they want to be, an objective Brendan has set for himself while working at Highlands Personnel. Rachael Lynch Related
Articles: Contacts: Highlands Personnel Mel Warner
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