Good Sammy staff and trainees are settling into a newly redeveloped headquarters in Canning Vale. The organisation said the changes have already made a big difference to daily work, accessibility and training.
The original building was constructed in 1979 and had minimal upgrades since then. over time, the workforce has grown from 300 to 800 people, with about half identifying as people with disability. The organisation said the redevelopment was needed to keep up with modern expectations and to support a much larger team.
Good Sammy chief executive officer Kane Blackman said the new, contemporary facilities had transformed the way people work and train at the site.
“Our vision at Good Sammy is to transform workplaces and society through disability employment and to do that, we need to start with ourselves,” he said.
“The redevelopment has provided staff with new, contemporary, accessible and inclusive facilities that cater for the increased size of the workforce.”
He said the upgrade had created a sense of pride among staff and had set a new benchmark for accessibility.
More than 200 staff and volunteers use the canteen every day. The upgraded space has wider access, more room to move and a range of features that support people with disability. The hospitality area now includes a dedicated barista station and more work areas, giving trainees more rom to learn and practise.
“For the 20 hospitality team members we have, there is now more space for them to train and work,” Mr Blackman said.
“These changes allow us to continue to grow our hospitality employment offering, which includes catering to corporate volunteer events and local businesses.”
The project involved extensive consultation with staff, including advice from Good Sammy’s Lived Experience and Happiness Committee. Staff said they needed wheelcha8r accessible areas, low-stimulation breakout rooms, automatic doors and easy-to-read signage. These features were included in the final design, along with improved shared spaces such as bathrooms, walkways and meeting rooms.
Mr Backman said the impact of the upgrade could already be seen across the organisation.
“Our staff now come to work with a renewed sense of pride,” he said.
“The facilities foster greater engagement which is evident through different teams working alongside each other and using the new training rooms and spaces.”
The new canteen helped the organisation host a buffet lunch for more than 200 staff, volunteers and families during International Day of People with Disability. The upgraded spaces have also supported recent visits from Leadership WA, RAC and Gallagher Insurance.
One of the many trainees benefitting from the new environment is Oliver, a 17-year-old local resident completing a Certificate II in Hospitality. He works two days a week in the canteen and enjoys front-of-house service. He has recently begun learning barista skills.
Oliver’s working environment “has been significantly improved with the redevelopment,” Mr Blackman said, giving him the chance to learn new skills in a more inclusive and professional setting.
