History

Oak Tasmania was originally known as the Retarded Citizen’s Welfare Association (RCWA) and was founded in 1953 by parents who wanted to improve the life of their disabled children once they had left schools that catered to their specific needs.

The RCWA became a State-wide organisation consisting of branches, regional committees and a State Council. Fundraising was the main activity with a significant portion of funds derived from the Miss Tasmania Quest.

Following a number of successful years of fundraising, the idea of establishing business services for people with disabilities who were leaving school, soon became a reality. The 1967 Handicapped Persons Act did allow for some Commonwealth funds to be made available, which assisted with the establishment of services.

Oakdale Industries

In 1965 Oakdale Workshop was established on land donated by the State Government. The main building was erected with considerable support and volunteer labour from the Trade Union movement. The initial work activity involved assembling cardboard inserts for apple cartons, but soon progressed to welding and timber manufacturing. Oakdale Workshop became part of Oak Enterprises in 1978 and is now known as Oakdale Industries. Occupying the original site in Warrane, Oakdale Industries is a now modern timber manufacturing plant, supplying high-quality products to national and international retail and wholesale customers.

Oak Sewing Services

A sewing service also shared the site at Warrane with Oakdale Workshop, initially occupying a renovated gymnasium at the site. The sewing business was relocated to a shop front location at Bayfield Street in Rosny Park, and renamed Rosny Sewing Services. After many years at this site, it was amalgamated with Mailhouse Tasmania when it moved to larger premises in Glenorchy. Oak Sewing Services provides sewing and overlocking services to hospitals, schools, hotels, restaurants, conference organisers, sporting clubs, small business and to individuals.

Mailhouse Tasmania

Mailhouse Tasmania started life as an activity centre for people with disabilities, but became a business service providing supported employment after securing Commonwealth funding. Mailhouse Tasmania has operated from three different sites in Glenorchy, each move necessitating larger premises due to the growth of the business. Mailhouse Tasmania, incorporating Oak Sewing Services currently operates from premises in Pitcairn Street, Glenorchy, where it offers intelligent and manual processing of a range of items, including regular mail, print post, advertising mail and bulk pre-sorted mail.

Walkabout Industries

In 1969 Walkabout Workshop commenced operations at Clydesdale Avenue in Glenorchy. The workshop was housed in the original homestead on the property which was a former market garden. Within a few years, fundraising from ‘Walkathons’ combined with funding from the Commonwealth Government, allowed a new building to be erected in 1971. This building housed the detergent and solvent packaging operations. Through the years Walkabout Industries has produced pre-mix cement, has collected and recycled bottles and cans, produced cleaning products, and produced and distributed ‘Polydrons’, a multi-sided educational aid for children.

Walkabout Industries is still operating from the Clydesdale Avenue premises and now supplies more than 120,000 bags of potting mix annually, provides a security shredding service and paper recycling service, and dispenses and packages a range of solvents.

 

 

 

 

Tahune Fields

The Huon Valley branch of the Retarded Children’s Welfare Association was established following a public meeting held at Geeveston in 1967. The aims of this body were to lobby for the establishment of a special school for disabled children, and to establish a sheltered workshop for disabled adults. Both of these projects would support local people with disabilities with the sheltered workshop providing employment for the special school leavers and adults alike. The establishment of a special school was achieved in 1970 and a 17 acre property for a rural activities centre was purchased in 1974.

Located on the main road at the outskirts of Huonville, the property consisted of 10 acres of established apple orchard and a number of large buildings that had previously been used as apple packing sheds. Two years later in 1976, the first staff members were appointed and the first trainees were employed.

In 1979, an additional property of 80 acres was purchased at nearby Lucaston. The property contained extensive river flats, which was ideal for the expanding nursery business. In 1982 the old orchard on the original property was grubbed out and a new orchard planting programme was begun at the Lucaston property. The major upgrade saw the company become a significant grower and supplier of young apple trees.

In 1986 further development took place with the purchase of the original homestead at Lucaston. The original property at Huonville was also sold in 1986 and funds from the sale were used to establish new bin and pallet manufacturing facilities on the Lucaston property. All operations were transferred to Lucaston and the homestead was developed into administrative and support offices. Tahune Fields was incorporated into Oak Enterprises in 1987.

Tahune Fields services mainly Australian commercial orchardists in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Activities include growing in excess of 170,000 apple trees and stone fruit trees per year, and manufacturing apple bins for local and interstate growers. Four hectares of apple orchards are now planted at the Lucaston property.

Oak Training and Development Services

Oak Training and Development Services has evolved from the horticultural industry based training that had been conducted at Tahune Fields since 1988. A Registered Training Organisation (RTO), this service offers certificate-based training for Oak Tasmania employees and staff, and for other businesses in Tasmania. Oak Training and Development Services is now based at the TAFE Campus in Warrane on Hobart’s Eastern Shore.

Oak Lifestyle Choices

Oak Lifestyle Choices comprises six programs that enable participants’ access to choices that will enable them to increase their functional and adaptive competencies, and allow them to more fully integrate into the community. The six programs include: Oak Leisure Centre (OLC); Independent Living and Training Centre (ILT); Technology Learning Centre (TLC); Oak Respite Service, Transition to Employment Service (TTE), and the Community Living Program (CLP).

Oak Leisure Centre

The original Oak Leisure Centre comprised a number of community supported houses in Clydesdale Avenue, Glenorchy that were established as a result of the then State Government’s policy change to one of deinstitutionalisation. Initially providing accommodation for 18 clients, the number of referrals began to grow as more Tasmanian institutions were closed. Within two years of the original properties being purchased in Glenorchy, another property was purchased in Lenah Valley to cope with demand. Extensive alterations were made to the property that included the addition of bathrooms, widening of passageways, the installation of a new kitchen, and an on-site shed was renovated to house the Technology Learning Centre.

 

 

 

 

Technology Learning Centre

The Technology Learning Centre (TLC) develops computer training and e-learning programs using assistive technology to benefit people with disabilities. TLC Staff are trained in the use of assistive technology to access educational, recreational and vocational opportunities using information communication technology and the Internet. The original programs were conceived at the Centre’s Lenah Valley premises, and continue today at new premises in Glenorchy.

The first program delivered at TLC was Unlimited Potential (UP) Club (Now known as DISCOVER IT!). Oak Tasmania managed to successfully negotiate funding through the Smith Family to launch an Unlimited Potential (UP) Club in Tasmania. The Program is a global Microsoft funding initiative to provide basic computer and internet training for disadvantaged people and those with disabilities, their families, carers and support workers. The funding includes access to curriculum and free Microsoft software.

Since early June 2006, more than 200 people have participated in programs offered by TLC, which now include nationally recognised training in Certificate I and II in Information Technology. These new self-paced, person-centred courses aim to train disadvantaged people to use information technology and assistive technology.

The courses are specifically designed to offer support, encouragement, motivation and success to benefit people with special learning needs; youth at risk, people with disabilities or mental illness or unemployed people seeking to join the workforce. There are very few services in Australia offering Certificate I and II level courses in Information technology with minimal support for users of assistive technology.

Through increased access to accredited training courses and life-long learning opportunities, we expect to enhance the quality of community involvement of participants, increase their independence and reduce reliance on Government funding services, as well as improving the potential educational and employment opportunities available to them.

The Technology Learning Centre is widely recognised for the delivery of high quality services and is a model of how social inclusion policies and practices can be implemented to benefit members of the local community.

Independent Living and Training Centre

The Independent Living and Training Centre (ILT) was established in Grove Road, Glenorchy 18 years ago. The need for a day service was identified in order to assist supported employees at Mailhouse Tasmania (a business division of Oak Tasmania) to access learning and recreational facilities.

Starting with 9 clients, ILT quickly expanded and within four years new premises were established in North Hobart. ILT now cater to the needs of more than 30 clients who enjoy a broad range of activities on a weekly basis.

Oak Respite Service

Oak Respite Service started in November 2003 and is funded under the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP), an initiative of the Commonwealth Government and managed by the Department of Health and Aging. The program was first offered from premises in Lenah Valley and has now grown to include the Technology Learning Centre. Respite is offered on Friday nights, Saturday mornings, and some Wednesday evenings. Overnight trips on weekends can be arranged and emergency respite is available.

Community Living Program

The Community Living Program (CLP) commenced in the early 1980’s in Hobart’s Northern suburbs following a request from parents who were seeking a more integrated setting for their children. The Program provides individual staff support for people with a disability who live in supported accommodation, housing or private rental properties. CLP have a committed team offering a range of flexible, high-quality, client-focused services with the aim of promoting independence.

Transition to Employment Service

The need for a transition to employment service was identified in 2006. The service would enable Oak Tasmania’s clients’ to access a supported work experience program that would help in learning the skills associated with participating in the workforce.

The pre-vocational employment skills program for young people with special learning needs is supported by community based activities, experience within Oak Tasmania’s Business Services, life skills development and recreational activities. The Program is aimed at developing practical “hands on” work experience which is critical to clients’ successfully making the transition to work. The Program also assists clients’ to overcome the loss of independence and thus reduce economic and social barriers which create further disadvantage.