Work Co-operative

Caboolture Community
Work Co-operative

In 2006, Homelife was instrumental in establishing the Caboolture Community Work Cooperative.

This was in response to the experience of many of the people Homelife supports who had had mixed experiences with trying to find work.

What people were asking for was:
• local work that was flexible, valued and that paid a just wage.
• an employer who acknowledged their many talents and gifts but understood about their employment needs.
• a network that saw itself as part of the Caboolture community.
• the experience of being a worker, of getting a job done and feeling proud of what they have achieved.

The Work Cooperative is a separate registered non-trading Cooperative directed by an executive of Coop members. Homelife has a memorandum of understanding with the Cooperative and is committed to providing administrative support through the Caboolture Participation Network in the early years of the cooperatives establishment.

The Objectives of the Caboolture Community Work Cooperative are as follows:
• To operate in the spirit of collective participation.
• To recognise and balance both the financial and social outcomes of the Co-operative.
• To seek out a range of both individual and community
contracts that will provide employment to members.
• To provide flexible part-time and casual employment to
unemployed members.
• To provide support to members interested in working but who have been excluded from the workforce due to issues relating to a disability.
• To source or provide training for both unemployed and
co-operative employed members.
• To support social and community development in the Caboolture community.

The coop seeks to create casual flexible employment opportunities within a supportive community. Working within the Caboolture area it, aims to increase participation from people experiencing exclusion in economic and community life.

By matching paid and unpaid co-workers with members who seek employment, the Cooperative gives people a chance to be valued workers contributing to our community.

For each member who would like to be part of the Cooperative, Caboolture Community Work Cooperative can provide the following.
• A supportive membership
• Casual, flexible employment
• Help to establish your own business
• Help to find work in the Caboolture community
• Social opportunities
• Work skill development opportunities

Currently the cooperative seeks out the following types of contracts for its members:

• Lawn Mowing
• Garden Maintenance
• Home cleaning inside & out
• Office cleaning
• Window Cleaning
• Catering
• Car Grooming
• Letterbox distribution
• Small maintenance
• Rubbish removal
• Small furniture and equipment removals

People who are interested in being part of the Caboolture Community Work Cooperative can contact the Caboolture Participation Network on 54957625.