Cassowary Coast Employment provides employment and on the job training services to job seekers with a disability.

Cassowary Coast Employment Group Inc (CCE) was established as an incorporated body on 19 January 1995 in Innisfail. It is presently funded by the federal Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) as a disability employment service covering areas in and around Innisfail, Tully, Murray Upper, Jumbun, Babinda, and Yarrabah.

Prior to its incorporation and since 1993, CCE commenced its operation as a disability employment outlet under the auspices of Direct Employment Service Ltd, Cairns. It was then located in the Innisfail SkillShare office until it relocated to Scheu Street, East Innisfail in 1995. With an operational staff of three, CCE shared the office premises with the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service. In March 1996, its office moved to its present location at Fitzgerald Esplanade. Operational and administrative staff levels have increased to eight workers.

CCE commenced its employment service with the registration of consumers with intellectual disability generally on disability support pension. This has expanded to include consumers on other types of Centrelink payments, catering for all disability types. Of particular note is the growth, over the last few years, in the number of clients with mental health condition that CCE has been successfully assisting.

From July 2005 to June 2009, CCE delivered the Personal Support Program (PSP) under a sub-contract from OSTARA Australia, a consortium of which CCE was a member. This program was also funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

CCE has a Board of Management consisting of community members and consumer representatives who have volunteered their time to act as the organisation’s governing body. Board members are elected at the Annual General Meeting, usually held in late October of each year.

CCE service is cost-free to its consumers and employers. It is a not-for-profit organization as well as a regional community based organization.

CCE Staff

Funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).