Leura Golf Club Crowned ‘Most Inclusive Employer’ in Australia

Nominated by Nova Employment — a Disability Employment Service — the small club in the state’s Central West region was one of seven finalists across Australia in the category that recognises businesses making an effort to promote inclusivity and provide opportunities for differently abled employees.

Long-term employee Corey has been a part of the greens team at Leura Golf Club for eight years, with Club General Manager Wayne Clayton quipping that Cory is “single-handedly responsible” for the Club’s recent glory.

“He does a wonderful job all the time and he's always cheerful, with an extremely positive outlook,” Wayne said.

“Corey is 25 per cent of the greens team — there's only four blokes who look after seven kilometres of golf course and he's an invaluable member of that group.”

Corey was employed as a part of the Club’s partnership with Nova Employment, spending his days clearing the fairways, landscaping and gardening the greens, ensuring the course is in tip-top-shape.

"Nova has been wonderful for this golf club and continues to be. I've got to take my hat off to them and how they go about promoting their services and how they go about taking care of their partners like us,” Wayne said.

Wayne accepted the award on the night saying that when he heard the Club’s name read out as a winner, the feeling was surreal.

“I felt like Robert De Niro or Al Pacino going to pick up the Oscar,” Wayne joked, adding that he addressed the room of 1000 people telling them of the relaxed, friendly place that he works at.

“We welcome anyone always and we're seeking to be as friendly a place as we possibly can. We're in the hospitality industry, so we're in the happiness business,” he said.

The award is the third inclusivity award for the Club this year, who clearly values its employees, with Wayne driving home why it’s important to celebrate and “make noise” about them.

“Whatever job anybody does, it's an opportunity to make the world a better place and I don't want to sound glib about it, but there's plenty of bad news in the world, so when these guys go out and do their jobs so well that somebody then celebrates them for doing that, I think it's just a wonderful thing,” Wayne said.

"Work matters and looking after people in the hospitality business matters, looking after employees matters. I don't think these things are little things, I think they're central and important.”

The Small Business Champion Awards provide recognition to outstanding small business across Australia.