David Gould knows all about facing adversity and how to start from scratch – which makes him a great messenger for Mission Australia’s Australian Apprenticeship Centre.

David was a budding sports star as a young boy until he became a paraplegic in a shooting accident at the age of 12.

Since then he’s carved out a career beyond his earlier dreams – winning gold for Australia in the wheelchair basketball finals at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, as well as a host of other trophies through five Paralympic Games and World Championship events.

This Friday he’ll be guest speaker at a major business forum, calling on Adelaide businesses to think about giving a start not only to disabled people, but young people from all backgrounds, through the innovative Australian Apprenticeship Support Service.

More than 110 people from industry, training organisations and a variety of businesses, will attend the Mission Australia Australian Apprenticeships Centre breakfast at the Adelaide Festival Theatre Complex on Friday, 9 February from 7-9am.

“One of the key roles of the Australian Apprenticeships Centres is to encourage businesses to take on disabled people, to give them the opportunity to harness and contribute their talents,” Mission Australia State Manager Mark Herselman said.

“David is proof of what determination and the right support can produce, so he’s also a fantastic role model not just for young disabled people, but for the whole community.”

Mission Australia, one of Australia’s leading community and employment services groups, works in a dozen regions nationwide to deliver Australian Apprenticeships Support Services, under contract from the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST).

Mission Australia’s Australian Apprenticeships Centres works closely with people seeking vocational pathways across more than 500 occupations, including building and construction, printing, sport and recreation, and telecommunications.

The Centres also work actively for the employer to assist in:

• providing accurate, current and comprehensive information on all available Australian Apprentices
• recruiting the right Australian Apprentice for the business
• completing the sign-up process
• administering the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program, processing applications and claims and taking the hassle out of the paperwork, and
• supporting the employer and the Australian Apprentice throughout the duration of the Australian Apprenticeship.

Australian Apprenticeships are open to anyone of working age, offering on and/or off the job training while being paid to work. No prior qualifications are required.

For more information, to attend the breakfast, or to arrange photos, interviews with David Gould and Mark Herselman, please contact:

Chris Rann, Rann Communication: (08) 8211 7771