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As the Roller Hawks continue their unbeaten start to the National Wheelchair Basketball League (NWBL), the club is pleased to announce Sureway Employment and Training as the naming rights sponsor of the club for the remainder of the 2019 season.

 

Sureway Roller Hawks Web

Sureway Employment & Training have been delivering employment services for over 25 years. Their purpose as a company is to change lives and build stronger communities. This is done through providing mentoring, support, training, and recruitment services for local employers, which enables clients to move into suitable sustainable employment and improve their quality of life.

 

Currently Sureway Employment & Training delivers the Australian Government’s jobactive and Disability Employment Services (DES) contracts from over 90 locations across NSW, VIC and SA. Sureway also has a sister Registered Training Organisation, Sureway Skills Training which last year assisted over 12,000 people into work.

 

“We see our partnership with the Roller Hawks as a great opportunity to further our advocacy for disability awareness.” says Sureway’s Regional Manager Michael Lee.

 

“No matter your current circumstances, there will always be opportunities to succeed, contribute and participate – whether that is in sport, work, volunteering, education or other avenues – and we are proud to be able to support our community to do just that.”

Sureway Naming Rights B

The Roller Hawks are a community based organisation run by dedicated group of volunteers. Through a combination of grants, donations, fundraising and corporate support the Roller Hawks are the able to compete in the national league, giving local wheelchair athletes the opportunity to play at the highest level whilst staying here in the Illawarra.

 

“As a team the Roller Hawks can only afford to play in the National Wheelchair Basketball League through the generosity of our sponsors.  It's been a long time since we have had a naming rights sponsor and we are excited to have Sureway come on board as our Naming Rights Sponsor for our 2019 season.” says Sponsorship Coordinator Sonia Taylor.

 

“We believe there are some great synergies between our respective organisations and we hope this will be a mutually beneficial partnership and then continue for many years.”

 

The Roller Hawks are the only regionally based team in the national league and began solely to provide an opportunity to play without having to commute to Sydney. Thanks to the corporate support of community minded businesses, including now Sureway, the Roller Hawks can continue to provide increased opportunities for home grown wheelchair athletes.

 

“It is very important that opportunities like this exist in our communities, for current and future generations, and we are very proud to be able to support the Roller Hawks this season.” says Lee.

 

The partnership comes after Roller Hawk and Sureway Employment Consultant Brad Fisher recognised the opportunity for the two organisations to come together.

Sureway Brad Fisher Web

“We extremely proud to have the Roller Hawk’s own Brad Fisher on Team Sureway passing on his support and knowledge to our wonderful participants!”

 

In the last 12 months Sureway has expanded their DES service to over 80 Disability Employment Services locations across three states, including brand new locations in Wollongong, Corrimal, Shellharbour and Dapto. Existing locations along the NSW coast extend all the way from Nowra, Ulladulla and Kiama, to Vincentia, Bowral, Tahmoor and Goulburn.

 

Not only does Sureway support thousands of people every month to find and keep sustainable work, the team also feels strongly about advocating and raising awareness of disability in the workforce and the

resulting benefits.

 

“Employing people with a disability - It makes good business sense. There is a preconception that someone with a disability might require extra effort in the workplace, but in fact there are actually a wealth of benefits. From improved team morale to good corporate social responsibility and longevity in the role.”

 

Lee says there’s work to do. Australia is ranked 21 out of 29 OECD countries in disability employment, with a 39.8% employment ratio of people with a disability compared to the population, against the OECD average of 44%.

 

“We are passionate about our role helping meet local employer’s needs, linking them with suitable skilled candidates and providing ongoing support in the workplace, which could include access to funding or training. And assisting more participants into employment.”

 

“Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety account for a significant proportion of Australians living with disability. These conditions can hinder someone’s chances of finding employment, unless these have the right support networks and services around them.

 

The Roller Hawks attitude towards sport mirror’s Sureway’s attitude to employment, there are mass flow on effects for the community.

 

“An employment opportunity doesn’t just change the circumstances of that one person, but can make a difference to their entire family and support network.

 

“It’s not only the financial benefits but it’s the social aspects, the feeling of having a purpose.”