Windgap

The incredible team behind the Australian Disability Enterprise that packs kits for Clean Up Australia Day

The lead up to Clean Up Australia Day is a busy and exciting time, with communities all over the country getting together to plan their local Clean Up events. Once groups have decided on natural or urban areas where rubbish is to be collected, sites are registered and Clean Up kits are sent out!

The parcel arrives by post, complete with compostable bags and the iconic gloves.

With kit in hand, communities are ready to get out there and make a real difference, removing plastics, takeaway containers and more from streets and nature.

You’re probably familiar with the excitement of receiving your Clean Up Kits, but have you ever thought about how they are put together? Who is the team behind the packing?

In 2023, the amazing Windgap Foundation took on the mammoth task of prepping our Clean Up kits. The Windgap Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which was founded 70 years ago this year!

Christine Stewart, Manager at Windgap for the last 18 years, said that the organisation was founded in 1953 by a group of parents who had children with disabilities. “Those parents were struggling to have their children in mainstream schools, so they banded together and formed their own services for their children, before inviting other people in. That’s how Windgap was born.”

Today, Windgap provides services for adults with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 65.

The Foundation has a person-centred approach, and prides itself on providing quality programs and support to foster independence, empowerment, learning and development, enabling each individual to live life to the fullest.

With a selection of Community Day Programs, which cover fun and rewarding activities like art classes, cooking classes, gardening, computer training, choir and community projects, as well as other programs like LORE – Life After Work – for more senior people who want to contribute to the community, the Foundation also has a major focus on Supported Employment Services, covering work in lawn maintenance and gardening, food hospitality, and a packing warehouse.

That’s where Clean Up Australia come in.

For Clean Up Australia, Windgap promised 15,000 kits to be packed and finalised in their warehouse by February 23, 2023, for the Clean Up Australia Day campaign – and we can say, with excitement, that they’ve achieved that target and more!

Since the beginning of the year the incredible team have completed around 500 kits per day. They’ve finished 16,000 kits which are being continuously dispatched to volunteers all over Australia. It’s been an excellent collaboration.

The Windgap workshop is a safe and fun employee space, with a typical day being 8-4, Monday to Thursday. “Employees come into work, say hi to their friends and peers, and just get on with the job they’ve been assigned for the day, around packaging, labelling and kitting,” Christine said. “It’s been a huge job!” she admits.

“Pre-Covid, we had similar type work happening and then Covid obviously hit the globe, so this is one of our first big contracts since then! We’ve had volunteers, mainly employees’ parents, also coming in to give their time. I can say that everyone who is participating has stood up, they’ve rocked on up and they’re here every day getting it done!”

One of those employees, Craig, returned to the warehouse after a break when he heard about the Clean Up Australia job. “He’s been one of our best workers on this job!” Christine enthused. Craig said that he loves labelling, packing and the wrapper to complete the kits. It’s a new piece of equipment in the warehouse which a lot of the supported employees have learned to use this year. “He’s just so proficient at it,” Christine said, “– once shown, he just runs with it!”

Then there’s Lynne, who has been part of the Windgap family for 50 years. Lynne said she really “enjoys the work” and in line with CUA sustainability goals is passionate about recycling cans and cardboard. “All of our supported employees, all of the staff and our Windgap family as a whole are really passionate about environment and reducing litter,” Christine confirmed. “That’s why we were excited to take on the CUA job – it’s a great cause, and it’s been an honour to be involved.

“In our day-to-day practices we also ensure that we are recycling correctly. It’s something that we are very attuned to, and we are pleased that we can contribute to your team’s project and helping out the greater nation – not just in our day-to-day practices!”

Windgap will celebrate their 70^th birthday at the 2023 Windgap Gala Masquerade Ball in May. This fundraiser event will unite people who want to help create opportunities for adults with disabilities.

For Clean Up Australia, it’s been our honour to have the Windgap team onboard and we look forward to what the future brings!

By Lucia Moon