Disability enterprise secures property maintenance business

Workpower Inc will be able to provide more opportunities for people with disability after it acquired property maintenance business Greg McKenna Property Services.

Greg McKenna Property Services was established in 1992 and has contracts with the Department of Communities, property managers and not-for-profits like Foundation Housing.

Its team of ten tradespeople will join Workpower’s existing 300-strong workforce (full-time equivalent).

Workpower chief executive Lee Broomhall said the organisation was working closely with the team at Greg McKenna Property Services to establish employment pathways and opportunities for people with disability.

Greg McKenna, who previously owned the property services company, said he had been involved with Workpower for a number of years and witnessed the great work it did for people with disability. 

“We have a diverse team joining Workpower, two of whom have hearing impairments, and we’re looking forward to continuing growing our opportunities for people with disability," Mr McKenna said. 

The acquisition means Workpower will offer property maintenance, alongside its other business functions including grounds and gardening maintenance, packaging, warehousing and logistics, waste management and office administration support.

The news comes after fellow disability enterprise Activ Foundation said it was going to close seven of its supported employment sites, a decision that would leave about 700 employees without work.

It was due to close in July, before the federal government offered Activ a $7.8 million lifeline to stay open for another 18 months.

The nine other disability enterprises based in WA, including Workpower, and National Disability Services have been working together to find other supported employment jobs for people impacted by the impending closure.