Case Studies

Downs Industry Schools Co-Op (DISCO)

The Downs Industry Schools Co-Op (DISCO) was formed in 1997 to provide a work experience service to schools and industry on the Darling Downs. DISCO has now broadened its scope to support young people in their transition from school to work.

DISCO has recently started working with the Australian Government’s Golden Gurus Program. The program utilises the experience of older retired Australians who volunteer their time to empower business owners to make their own decisions by drawing on the wealth of experiences they have had in their own business life.

At DISCO, Golden Gurus have shared their knowledge and experience in building, gardening, painting, sewing, and music with young people involved with the organisation. The Gurus also provide support in workshops under the Project11 banner. For more information on Project 11, please see the
DISCO website.

DISCO Golden Gurus Coordinator, Jenny Nothdurft, said she has been so impressed with the enthusiasm and skill level of our Golden Gurus - they demonstrate incredible knowledge and have so much passion to help the young people who participate.

Roslyn Kennedy, who has been involved with the Golden Gurus’ holiday program, said it had been a wonderful experience so far going on to thank all of them sincerely for their contribution to the program. We’re having a great time she said.

For more information about the DISCO Golden Gurus program, visit the DISCO website.

NORTEC

NORTEC Employment & Training is a not for profit organisation on the North Coast of NSW that provides recruitment services for businesses and jobseekers. The organisation provides services that range from accredited training and traineeship delivery, temporary labour hire staffing to permanent no-cost recruitment services.

Working with the Golden Gurus mentoring program, NORTEC matches retired professionals and executives (Golden Gurus) with local businesses. Our Gurus empower business owners to make their own decisions by drawing on the wealth of experiences they have had in their own business life.

Co-ordinator of the Golden Gurus mentoring program, Paul Jameson, said the NSW North Coast was rich with retired and semi-retired professionals who have extensive knowledge that can be passed onto the next generation of entrepreneurs. Paul also said that there are a lot of retired and semi-retired people who have been heavily engaged in business in the past only to find that they now have a lot of time on their hands. He also said that mentoring is very stimulating for them and they can help to grow the region.

Byron-based earthenware artist Jules Hunt, who participated in the program, said her Golden Guru helped put her gallery on a firm financial footing and she has since taken on a trainee. She said her business was at a point where she really needed help and guidance. Jules also said that a lot of the discussions she had with her Golden Guru were about time management, distribution and production processes. Having a mature age mentor has been great for Jules because they have more wisdom and ability to step back and focus on her business.

Retired chemical engineer Peter Bowen, who previously worked in the corporate world for Sydney based sugar and building materials giant CSR, moved to the Northern Rivers 10 years ago. Peter says that he enjoys giving something back to the community and that the region has a huge number of people who are retired and who have great business skills, so he would encourage them to consider becoming a mentor and help start-up businesses.

For more information about the NORTEC Golden Gurus Program, visit the NORTEC website

Golden Guru Monique

By Gay Robson, Golden Gurus Ambassador, Volunteering Gold Coast

Monique, a ‘legally blind’ lady, came to Volunteering Gold Coast Volunteering Services hoping that we could place her in a volunteer position. She is our first “Golden Guru”.

Golden Guru Monique was invited to join the Committee of an Advocacy Group for people with disabilities, she accepted and is now very much, to use her words, able to “add a voice to assist people with vision impairment to overcome the hurdles that I have faced and to see that life can be fulfilling and rewarding”.

As a Golden Gurus mentor Monique brings to this group her unique insight into the world of people with disabilities and the need for their social inclusion.

Monique is currently finishing her Certificate II in IT at TAFE using a software program called JAWS. With its built-in software speech synthesizer and the computer’s sound card, information from the computer is read aloud, providing technology to access a wide variety of information, education and job related applications. This software marries with MS Office enabling people with vision impairment to use all MS Office programs, helping them return to the workforce or not for profit sector.

Monique has a vision, to provide basic computer training for those people with disabilities, aged or isolated. To achieve this she has so far:

• completed a needs analysis for the project and submitted it to the company that owns the complex she lives in with a proposal to utilise the “common room” by setting it up to deliver basic computer courses.
  
• by utilising the Government and NEC ‘Broadband for Seniors’ initiative she has submitted her request to set up a “Broadband for Seniors Kiosk” to NEC for their consideration.

She believes that, for the disabled, the ability to be able to communicate, sometimes at the most basic level, can be challenging and frustrating. The ability to use modern technology opens up a whole “new world of communication” by helping people realise that life can be fulfilling and rewarding.

Bio: Monique - Golden Guru

My name is Monique and I am legally blind. Initially, my white cane allowed me the freedom to move about. However, I am much more independent with the aid of my trusted and beautiful Guide Dog “Jemma”.

Approximately four and half years ago I suffered multiple strokes from a twisted carotic artery, the result being, vision impairment, short term memory loss and cognitively challenged.

Every day consists of learning, developing strategies this is made possible with the help and support from so many good people. The fact that Jemma and I can and do live independently has to be a testament to all the support we have received.

I am attending TAFE at Loganlea learning to use JAWS. You cannot imagine the joy and satisfaction for me to be attending TAFE and learning how to use the computer. This is the only written way I can communicate with anyone. Having completed Certificate I in IT in 2009, I am currently doing my Certificate II in IT.

It is very empowering to be able to interact on an equal level with my sighted peers and give teachers the confidence that I can access lecture notes and information through the Internet and email.

It is my goal to acquire my Certificate III in Community Services-Disability and rejoin the work force in some capacity, and or to work within a Not for Profit organization to assist people with vision impairment to overcome the hurdles that I have faced and to see that life can be fulfilling and rewarding.

JAWS is allowing me to have access to modern technology and increase my independence in enabling research related study and other daily computer tasks which would otherwise require a sighted assistant.