Bonsai’s jobs lifeline

By Tania Martin
A BONSAI nursery in Monbulk will employee people with mental illness following the launch of a joint State and Federal Government project.
The project aims to employ people with mental illness to help reduce the 75 per cent that are currently unemployed.
Paul Sweeney of Dandenong Ranges Wholesale Bonsai nursery made the project possible when he sold his business to Social Firms Australia (SoFA).
SoFA is a non-profit company which aims to create innovative employment options for people with a disability, especially those with psychiatric problems.
Mr Sweeney said the offer from SoFA to buy his business came at a time when his wife was going through a mental breakdown.
“We realised we needed to make changes to our lifestyle,” he said.
But, it wasn’t until Mr Sweeney received a letter in the mail from SoFA that he realised that his business could be used as a tool to help people with mental illness.
SoFA was able to buy the bonsai business with the help of $140,000 from State and $260,700 from Federal Government funding.
The nursery now known as Bonsai – The Imagination Tree will offer jobs to people with mental illness and train existing staff in assisting their colleagues in the workplace.
Caroline Cross of SoFA said the bonsai project is an inspiring example of how social and commercial ventures can combine together to make a viable social firm.
Former owners Paul and Trish Sweeney will stay on at the nursery as mentors to the business.
Mr Sweeney said he was hoping to see the stigma on employing people with mental illness broken.
“Sometimes all someone needs is the right environment and a sense of belonging,” he said.
Casey MP Tony Smith said the bonsai project was another example of the Government continuing to work in partnership with local communities to develop programs that are relevant to the local area.
Monbulk MP James Merlino said 25 per cent of the nursery’s employees would be people with disabilities, giving them greater employment opportunities.
“This project shows how a workplace can open the door to opportunity for people with mental illness,” he said.