AFTER seven years advocating for the city’s most vulnerable, Ballarat Regional Industries’ chief officer has handed over the reins.
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BRI chief executive officer Paul Crosbie handed the mantle to former head of UnitingCare Ballarat Cliff Barclay at the organisation’s 30th annual general meeting on Thursday.
BRI chairwoman Sarah Lia gave an emotional speech , thanking Mr Crosbie for the work he had undertaken during his time in the top role.
Ms Lia said when BRI was established in 1984 its objective was to provide training and work experience for people with disabilities.
“Thirty years later this objective continues but with one major shift,” Ms Lia said.
“BRI is now a substantial employer and business owner in its own right.”
She said BRI now had 140 employees with disabilities, a testament in part to the work Mr Crosbie had undertaken.
Mr Crosbie said his time working at BRI had been among the most rewarding of his life.
He said he hoped the roll out of the gederal government’s National Disability Scheme in 2016 would reinvent the system of funding for the disability sector.
"I hope the NDIS will bring with it a new pricing policy,” Mr Crosbie said.
“I hope it will outline the real costs and the needs of the disability service industry which has been neglected for far too long.”
Mr Crosbie said the ethos of BRI was simple, to “give real employment opportunities to real people.”
“Too often people with disabilities are isolated,” he said. “Employment provides an opportunity for constant social inclusion.”