Sydney, NSW. Access Industries has been featured by global consumer health leader Haleon in a case study showing how an inclusive packing partnership cut production cycles from three weeks to one and delivered a 7% cost saving on Haleon’s Australian contract spend. The collaboration runs on a disability employment model Access Industries has operated since 1949, now across three New South Wales sites: Seven Hills in Sydney, Hamilton in Newcastle, and Lithgow.
For Access Industries, the partnership is proof of a position we’ve held for years: socially responsible procurement and operational performance are not a trade-off.
The disability employment gap, and the business case for closing it
Disability employment in Australia still sits well behind the rest of the workforce. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a labour force participation rate of 53.4% for working-age people with disability, against 84.1% for those without. That gap represents a large, motivated, and under-tapped talent pool for Australian businesses.
Access Industries is an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) and a Registered Training Organisation, RTO 45311. Every supported employee is paid award wages, builds nationally recognised qualifications, and works toward open employment. Partners like Haleon are backing a model that delivers genuine workforce development, not symbolic inclusion. Learn more about NDIS supported employment.
How the Haleon packing partnership works
Haleon’s Australian consumer health products move through our contract packing and kitting facility, where a supported team handles automated cartoning, manual packing, and palletisation. To meet Haleon’s growth in volume, Access Industries invested in specialised cartoning equipment to sit alongside the team’s existing workflows.
The combination of automation plus a stable, capability-matched workforce has reshaped the operation:
- Three weeks to one week. Production cycles that previously took three weeks now complete in one.
- 7% cost saving. Total contract spend on Haleon’s Access Industries lines is down 7% since the investment.
- Higher quality, less waste. Automation absorbs repetitive tasks so the supported team can focus on quality control and value-add work.
Why disability often drives quality, not just inclusion
A point Haleon’s feature highlighted, and one we see on the floor every day: disability often produces unique strengths in production work. In the Access Industries packing division, several vision-impaired team members consistently exceed KPIs. Heightened tactile sensitivity lets them detect packaging inconsistencies, mis-fills, torn seals and off-spec cartons that visual checks alone can miss.
When work is designed around the capability of the person rather than a generic role description, throughput and quality both lift. The Haleon partnership is one of the clearer demonstrations of that effect at production scale in Australia.
“Inclusion and efficiency go hand in hand, building a supply chain that is continually developing, socially responsible, and aligned with our purpose.” (Haleon)
The training model behind the results
Access Industries is an RTO (number 45311), so supported employees aren’t just doing the job, they’re earning nationally recognised qualifications while they work. Training pathways are mapped to the work each person does day to day, including foundation skills (FSK10119) and manufacturing operations (MSM30116).
That is what makes the Haleon outcomes durable. New team members are inducted with structured training; existing team members keep upskilling. It is why a Haleon line that ran on three-week cycles now runs on one, and stays there.
Partner with an Australian Disability Enterprise
Access Industries works with corporate partners across Australia who need reliable, ethical and increasingly automated packing capacity. Beyond Haleon, our supported teams deliver contract packing, industrial sewing, timber products and pallets, and linen services from Seven Hills, Hamilton and Lithgow.
If you’re evaluating an Australian Disability Enterprise for your supply chain, or you want to talk to a team that can do packing work better and cheaper than your current provider, get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE)?
An Australian Disability Enterprise is a business that provides supported employment for people with disability, paying award wages and building transferable skills. Access Industries is an ADE founded in 1949, operating across Seven Hills (Sydney), Kemps Creek (Sydney), Hamilton (Newcastle) and Lithgow.
How does disability employment improve packing operations?
A capability-matched workforce, paired with appropriate automation, lifts both quality and throughput. In the Access Industries and Haleon partnership, production cycles fell from three weeks to one week and total contract cost dropped 7%, while vision-impaired team members regularly outperform packing KPIs through heightened tactile sensitivity.
Is Access Industries a Registered Training Organisation?
Yes. Access Industries is RTO 45311. Supported employees earn nationally recognised qualifications while they work, including foundation skills (FSK10119) and manufacturing operations (MSM30116).
Where is Access Industries located?
Three sites across New South Wales: Seven Hills (Sydney head office, 131 Station Rd), Kemps Creek (Toll Kemps Creek Distribution Centre, 59-62 Abbotts Rd, Kemps Creek), Hamilton (Newcastle, 98 Donald St) and Lithgow (155 Bells Rd).
Can my business partner with Access Industries for packing or kitting?
Yes. Access Industries provides contract packing, kitting, palletisation and automated cartoning for Australian and global businesses. Contact us via the enquiry page to discuss requirements.