130 reasons to celebrate
Blueline Laundry is celebrating 130 years as a Social Enterprise, creating meaningful employment for people of all abilities, backgrounds and cultures through the provision of commercial linen and laundry services. A brief glimpse of the perennial banter, echoing laughter, ever-present smiles, and general buzz from 240 employees rolling into work each and every day is a testament to the spirit of what has held Blueline Laundry in such good stead for so many years.
Commencing operations in 1893 as BayView Laundry, the service was first developed by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd to provide employment for disadvantaged women and girls. It’s a history that has spanned 3 centuries and experienced 2 world wars, the Polio Pandemic, The Spanish Flu, the 1967 Hobart bushfires, a devasting boiler explosion in 1974, the Global Financial Crisis and more recently, the Covid Pandemic. It’s a history built upon the heart of its purpose, to create meaningful employment for Tasmania’s most vulnerable persons whom, due to their marginalisation, vulnerability or disadvantage, experience barriers to employment.
WIN news came to the party and put together a story highlighting our star admin support officer Vikas Patel
In the mid 90’s, Blueline Laundry developed Australia’s first award payment systems for people with intellectual disabilities which has helped shape the modern Supported Employment Services Award of today and developed one of Australia’s first externally recognised, work-based training and development programs. The organisation has continued to evolve as a fully commercial and competitive laundry while continuing to offer employment, training and personal development to disabled and disadvantaged people.
Blueline has a deep-seated practice of diversity, equity and inclusion in its DNA and does so in very unique ways. Blueline serves to create social inclusion, economic participation and a place of belonging for its employees. Of its 240 staff, 35% work with a disability, and a further 35% are culturally and linguistically diverse, mostly migrants with refugee histories. A presence, and understanding, of ‘trauma’ bonds the workforce
“Our diverse workforce is our most valuable asset” said Blueline CEO, Michael Sylvester. “Every member of our team plays a vital and valued role in delivering our high-quality laundry services in a fully-integrated operating environment that mirrors the demands and challenges of any modern business”.
Whilst Blueline continues to invest heavily in its laundry operations, state-of-the-art equipment, and technologies to maximise quality, sustainability and cost efficiency, the largest and most important investment it maintains is the social capital that underpins the entire purpose of the operation. That is clearly to continue creating meaningful employment for all people who experience barriers to employment including those with disability, migrants and Tasmanians experiencing hardship.