Ian Blackburn
I am totally blind.
Jobs I have held: receptionist, (current) Telemarketer (I did not like this), Information officer, call centre officer.
The industry sector was the public service. The Telemarketer was in the charity sector.
key challenges that I have faced:
While at the Salvation Army Officer Training College I worked for a month in Pentrige Prison as a chaplain. The challenge here was that there was no legal means I was able to use to make notes. Tape recorders or any type were not allowed in the prison and they did not like the idea of a portable brail machine, and there were no note takers then.
With all my other phone type jobs I have had the difficulty of accessing the print. In some jobs the computer systems were not compatible with blind software but some employers are accommodating. One challenge is the total lack of career development or monitoring of work performance. I have never had a personal business plan drawn up for me nor have I had proper performance evaluations and I have worked in my current job for seven years. Employer offers no training outside current duties. That is no advancement opportunity.
For my early jobs particularly with the Salvation army I had no proper work experience to draw on to work out solutions for them. They certainly made no effort to work out the solutions. At least they did performance evaluations though.
My highest educational qualification is a bachelor Economics (honours) Murdoch university 1990.
I have also completed some small TAFE units on advocacy etc.
I was the first blind person to undertake the introductory course through Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia.
Contact Details
Ian Blackburn
Work phone 08 9263 4111
Receptionist
Government Employees Superannuation Board
PO Box J755
Perth WA 6842
Fax: within Australia 1800 300 067
e-mail: iblackburn@gesb.wa.gov.au