GenUnable to park

No disabled parks for staff at disability support service, but managers get spaces

GEELONG charity genU has started locking its own disabled employees out of an onsite carpark, while continuing to allow management to use the facility.

Notes were placed on the cars of workers based at the Douro St, North Geelong, site of the organisation formerly known as Karingal last month, informing them of a policy change that effectively banned all workers from the on-site, gated carpark.

The no-parking policy was not extended to management.

One outraged employee labelled the move “hypocritical” and told the Geelong Advertiser it had created great unrest among staff, who were not consulted about the parking changes.

“No consultation was done with anyone, notes just suddenly started appearing on cars,” the worker said.

“The general staff view is that it (parking on-site) should be allowed, at least for people with disabilities.

“Some of our workers also have physical disabilities so they need to be able to have safe walking areas.”

Staff were also concerned about the safety and welfare of employees who started work at 6am, before the sun came up in winter, the worker said.

All genU workers, including employees with a disability, were now forced to park in the street or on a nature strip, which could be problematic, given the number of other businesses in the area, the worker said.

“It just feels wrong to me and against what we stand for. If it wasn’t for people with a disability, we wouldn’t be here,” the worker said.

GenU executive general manager Brandon Howard yesterday said the aim of the parking directive was to free up parking for visitors to the site.

“We have asked all staff to park in Mornington St, where there is reserved and public parking available,” he said.

“There are also reserved parks for people with a disability on the property.”

But the Geelong Advertiser understands the disabled carparks are in the areas in which staff have been requested not to park.

GenU did not respond to questions asking why management was exempt from the parking directive.

Karingal St Lawrence rebranded to genU last year, the second name change in as many years after Karingal and St Lawrence merged in 2016.

Formed by parents and members of the community in 1952 to support people with a disability, Karingal has grown to provide employment services as well as mental health, aged care and disadvantaged support services.

GenU chief executive officer Mike McKinstry took the reins in 2015 and has been at the helm through the St Lawrence merger and 2017 rebrand.

He said last year the move to genU was about responding to a new generation of people.

“The idea behind our new branding is that genU is for everyone, no matter which generation you belong to,” Mr McKinstry said.

But the Douro St worker said the rhetoric and reality of genU seemed poles apart.

“It seems to be genU only if you’re a manager,” they said.

“No consultation was done with anyone, notes just suddenly started appearing on cars.” A DOURO ST GENU WORKER

Picture: GLENN FERGUSON ON THE OUTER: genU workers were told via notes (left) to stop us using the staff carpark, even those with a disability. But managers ar are reportedly exempt from the ban.