THE HON MARK BUTLER MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
MEDIA RELEASE
THE WHIDDON GROUP RECOGNISED AT DIVERSITY@WORK AWARDS
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler today congratulated the winners
of last night’s Diversity@Work Awards, which recognise employers with positive and
inclusive employment practices, including those that support mature-aged workers.
The Whiddon Group was presented with the Employment and Inclusion of Mature
Aged Workers Award – sponsored by the Gillard Government – in recognition of their
contribution to removing the barriers to participation of mature-aged workers in the
workforce.
More than 65 per cent of The Whiddon Group’s workforce is aged over 45, with 28
per cent aged 55 years or older.
Mr Butler congratulated The Whiddon Group and urged more Australian businesses
to consider the skills and experience of mature aged workers.
“Mature age workers can offer employers a combination of experience, strong work
ethic, commitment to quality, and low absenteeism,” Mr Butler said.
“In today’s competitive workplace, with an ageing population and many sectors of the
economy experiencing a shortage of skilled labour, it is important to have employees
who can bring that special combination of skill and experience to a workplace.
“As the workforce becomes a smaller proportion of our society, employees cannot
afford to waste the potential of older Australians. Anyone who wants to join the
workforce should be able to do so without having to face additional barriers or
discrimination.
“I’d like to congratulate the award winners and nominees for making that extra effort
to accommodate workers of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.”
The Whiddon Group has created a more flexible work environment for mature-aged
workers, including access to Grandparent's Leave, five weeks of annual leave,
flexible work arrangements, a Scholarship Program, and support to encourage
workers to convert their valuable workplace experience into formal qualifications.
15 October 2010
MEDIA CONTACT:
Samantha Regione 0418 112 688
NEWS 
