The success of the Taree business in this award category says much about the work ethic of Richard Stephenson and James Glass and the workplace culture at Valley Industries.

The accolade of Employee of the Year (Indigenous) went to James and according to Valley Industries unit manager, Graeme Schultz, the award is deserved recognition of the work that James does to develop the work, life and social skills of Valley Industries clients.

Graeme explained that James works five-day-a-week supervising crews of Valley Industries clients who mow lawns and maintain gardens in the Manning Valley. However, it is his work after hours with his co-workers that makes his contribution to the workplace worthy of accolade.

"James also works two nights-a-week on air at the local indigenous radio station, Ngarralinyi. Most Friday and Saturday nights he will take some of our clients to the radio station and teach them about the station and the indigenous community it does make for interesting listening," laughed Graeme.

Graeme said it was this willingness to go beyond what is required of him with clients that made him a deserved winner of the award.

Richard Stephenson also works supervising crews of Valley Industries clients, but is the only client of Valley Industries charged with that level of responsibility. His professionalism earned him the Employee of the Year with a Disability Award.

For more than 20 years Richard has worked at Valley Industries and is the only client with a disability who has earned the position of crew supervisor.

Four-days-a-week he will work with, and supervise crews of two or three men who mow lawns and maintain gardens and one-day-a-week he will work in the Valley Industries Business and Office Services branch to collect security shredding bins from local businesses, and then shred the documents. Graeme said that Richard works above the standard of what is expected of him at Valley Industries and contributes a great deal to the crews he supervises.