Partnering with genU has helped Barwon Water achieve their social procurement goals and create jobs for people with disability.
As Victoria’s largest regional water corporation, Barwon Water has a strong commitment to an economically, socially, and environmentally prosperous region. This led them to partner and collaborate with genU Business Enterprises to make a positive impact.
“Creating opportunities for Victorians with disability is a key pillar of Barwon Water’s approach to social procurement,” Barwon Water Managing Director, Shaun Cumming said.
“Our latest social procurement strategy has a range of priority actions including procurement opportunities, employee capability development and supplier engagement.”
Driving regional prosperity
A key part of the partnership is genU’s community nursery. Since 2013/14, the nursery has provided over 40,000 plants to Barwon Water each year. These plants are used for revegetation, biodiversity management, and donations to Landcare and community groups. genU also takes care of indoor plants and gardens at Barwon Water’s head office, as well as mowing and land care at Barwon Water sites.
“The nursery services contract with genU provides ongoing full-time employment and training of 13 supported employees,” Shaun said. “It also assisted genU to successfully champion seven supported employees into open employment during 2022–23.”
genU also delivers workshops to Barwon Water staff, providing training on inclusive practices and helping employees embody Barwon Water’s values: caring, safe, accountable, inclusive, and courageous. Plus, both genU and Barwon Water are signatories to GROW, a Give Where You Live initiative focused on creating jobs for people with barriers to employment and boosting the local economy through local spending.
“Our partnership with genU helps us meet our strategic aim of enabling regional prosperity by providing direct economic and social benefit through employment and training of employees with disability,” Shaun said.
“There are so many brilliant organisations within our region that businesses can partner with to enhance their knowledge and understanding of social procurement. We recommend engaging with a social enterprise and taking the time to listen to what a partnership can achieve. You could be surprised with a unique solution you may not have considered. Whether you start big or small doesn’t matter – it’s just ‘starting’ that makes a difference!”
Partner with genU
Need an efficient way to streamline your business operations while achieving your social procurement goals? At genU, our businesses offer practical, useful and high-quality business services for a wide range of organisations.
Plus, you’ll be doing a world of good. By hiring us for your business services, you’ll also be helping kick-start the careers of people living with disability.

