Wormald have been named winner of the medium-large business category in the 2007 ACT Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards. The Awards recognise the achievements of organisations, which demonstrate a commitment to encouraging, welcoming and supporting disability in the workplace.
Wormald take consistent measures to ensure that the needs of their employees are met. In recent years, numerous initiatives have been made to improve facilities for disabled employees including ramped and railed building access, wider doorways and paths of travel, specially designed workstations and furniture, as well as an employee care support system offering career course consultation and job flexibility.
Richard Kelleway, Managing Director, Tyco Fire & Security, said that diversity at Tyco is not limited to the traditional aspects of race or sex. It extends to other factors including the employment of personnel with physical and/or mental disabilities. Tyco Fire & Security diversity aim is for employees to mirror the communities in which they operate around the world.
Richard Kelleway also said that Tyco Fire & Security believe that their approach to diversity creates a positive impact in the workplace by improving the work environment for those with disabilities as well as raising overall staff morale.
Paul Magro began his career with Wormald in 2000 as a sprinkler fitter. In 2005, Paul Magro became paralysed from the chest down following a non-work-related biking accident. After several months in hospital, Paul Magro started back at Wormald part-time, while also carrying out a comprehensive computer training course through TAFE. He gradually progressed to full time work and with his new CAD qualifications became a Fire System Designer.
Wormald, in consultation with CRS Australia, prepared a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for him, which incorporated his last six months in hospital, modifications to his house and the adjustment back to every day life over the following six months.
The accident totally transformed his life, but despite the challenges thrown, he has been able to remain at Wormald with the support of their diversity programme, progressing from a draftsman to become an integral part of the engineering design team. The Wormald pilot programme in ACT has been evaluated at a national level and has, consequently, been promoted to other branches and facilities throughout Australia.