The Honda Foundation's Brite Future

TULLAMARINE, AUSTRALIA – Feb 14, 2012: Essendon Honda and The Honda Foundation have donated $6,500 to Brite Services for the purchase of eight office computers to conduct training classes for their employees with a disability.

Brite Services, also known as Victorian Vocational Rehabilitation Association (V.V.R.A.) offer employment and training to people with a range of disabilities. Their Broadmeadows site operates Brite Pak and Brite Plants. Brite Pak provides services to Australian businesses in the areas of warehousing, packaging, collating, assembly, labelling, distribution, wholesale nursery, automotive parts warehousing, assembly, pick and packing, and food packaging.

“Brite Services are an Australian Disability Enterprise, educating and employing people with disabilities,” said Mr. Lindsay Smalley, Chairman of The Honda Foundation. “Employees benefit greatly from the programs offered, and the donation of these computers will help to further educate in technological advances that have changed the way businesses operate today.”

Brite Institute delivers government funded and free-for-service training programs, typically delivered via a classroom-based training model. They offer accredited training courses and short courses in process manufacturing, aged care and a number of other areas.

Weekly classes have been conducted to familiarise employees with modern computer and internet applications such as e-mail and various social networking websites, providing an important platform to develop on-the-job skills as well as important life skills to enable social inclusion. Classes have proven very beneficial to the employees and to the organisation as a whole, as evidenced by the distribution of a monthly internal newsletter. Practical use aside, these classes have boosted the self confidence of employees who are eagerly learning new skills to adapt to changing technology and communication.

The eight new computers generously donated by The Honda Foundation, are user friendly, with touch-screen support to suit all employees.

“I thank The Honda Foundation for partnering with Brite Services/VVRA to enable this important life skills and wellbeing program to further grow and thrive. It is with this terrific support of The Honda Foundation that we continue our mission to provide sustainable services that provide opportunity and support for people living with a disability or who are vocationally disadvantaged,” said Julie McKay, CEO of Brite Services.

The Honda Foundation aims to provide assistance to local communities and foster goodwill among Honda Australia, Honda Motor Vehicle Dealers and the public. It draws funding from Honda Dealers and Honda Australia who donate $15 ($5 and $10 respectively) for every Honda car sold.

For more information on The Honda Foundation and the organisations it supports, please visit www.hondafoundation.org.au