Difficulties at Cumberland Industries.

Cumberland Industries, a well known , large employer of people with disabilities in Sydney is in financial difficulties, and has been under voluntary financial administration for some weeks. This article by Michael Duffy that appeared in yesterday's Fairfax papers is the first media report we have seen, and gives assurance that the jobs of the 600+ people with disabilities employed in supported business enterprises (and funded by the Federal Government) will be safe, although those enterprises might be managed by other services.

We know that many Cumberland employees are people with Down syndrome, who value their jobs and gain great satisfaction from them. Some have worked at their current jobs for several years. We understand that they and their families have been kept informed about possible changes, and reassured about their jobs.