Bedford crisis: Harvey Whitelock, Ashlee Clinch among workers still fearing for future

Harvey and Ashlee found love, purpose and family at Bedford, now they’re terrified it could still all be ripped away amid ongoing uncertainty at the disability work provider.

For nearly 40 years, Harvey Whitelock has turned up to work at Bedford with quiet determination and pride.

But now, the 58-year-old and his partner, Ashlee Clinch, both living with disabilities, are clinging to hope as the supported workplace they love and rely on faces an uncertain future.

Harvey, who has cerebral palsy, is blind in one eye and suffered lifelong injuries from a horror hit-and-run crash in 1995, joined Bedford back in 1987.

He now works in packaging and, despite having a limited physical capacity, has worked his way up from just around $3/hour to $10/hour, according to his dad, Rod Whitelock.

“He’s progressed and progressed,” Mr Whitelock said.

“He loves his work, even though $10 an hour isn’t much compared to most people.”

Bedford employees and couple Harvey Whitelock and Ashlee Clinch are concerned about their uncertain future. Picture: Emma Brasier

People working at Australian Disability Enterprises, like those at Bedford, are contracted under the Supported Employment Services Award, which allows employers to pay workers with disabilities based on their assessed productive capacity rather than full award wages.

That means some employees can be paid as little as $3.12 an hour — the legal minimum from July 1, 2025, up from the previous floor of $2.75.

Harvey’s partner of ten years, Ashlee Clinch, is among them. She also works in packaging but earns close to the minimum rate due to her limited capacity, often becoming fatigued easily.

Still, the news that Bedford could close brought her to tears last week.

“They don’t just go to Bedford to work, it’s their whole social safety net,” Rod said.

“All their friends are there. They help each other out. They go on outings together. It’s a community, it’s a family.”

The couple were relieved to see the state government step in with a $15m emergency package, with the aim to stop a collapse and buy time for a longer-term plan — one that the federal government has not yet committed to.

Federal Disability Minister Mark Butler has said any Commonwealth support will depend on whether a viable plan is presented.

But Rod Whitelock believes Bedford’s troubles go deeper and date back to when the organisation, he says, began focusing more on growth and business than on the people it was created to support.

“The whole place seems to have gone down in care,” he said.

“It used to feel like a proper family network. Now, it feels like pure business, and it’s cost them.”

He said uncertainty had been mounting for months, amid drawn-out enterprise agreement (EA) negotiations with the United Workers Union.

However, Bedford was not forthcoming on whether an EA had yet been agreed upon when questioned by The Advertiser.

Instead, a spokeswoman reiterated that their focus remains firmly on developing a plan to stabilise the organisation in collaboration with appointed restructure advisers, McGrathNicol.

“Our people remain our priority during this challenging time as we continue to work towards a future which offers more jobs, choice and pathways for people with disability in South Australia,” she said. “Information on Bedford’s future will be shared as it becomes available.” 

United Workers Union has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Bedford crisis: Harvey Whitelock, Ashlee Clinch among workers still fearing for future