The Upcycle program is a Local Jobs Program (LJP) initiative that has provided Jobseekers with the opportunity to develop employability skills and undertake training within the hospitality, retail and related industries that will help people to gain employment or move onto further study.
Participants attained experience and skills by developing a Coffee shop / Micro Cafe at The Brinkley reuse Centre at Murray Bridge. They turned unwanted and recycled materials into usable and reused items, such as serving counters, walling materials and seating arrangements etc. The was turned into an amazing interactive space that can be used for a training and tranquil sitting place for customers, staff and trainees.
Outcomes included jobs, first aid cert, RSA, career development and getting their L’s.
Photos of the Graduation and the Cafe are available on Facebook.
Congratulations to ALL the Participants! A BIG thank you to our partners and supporters including Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Rural City of Murray Bridge and the Recycle centre crew.
Youth Options Hospo Prepped Program commenced in the first half of 2022 after the State Government of South Australia identified the Hospitality Industry had a desperate need for skilled workers, particularly after Covid had hit the industry hard over the previous 2 years.
Youth Options, in partnership with Registered Training Organisation Adelaide Institute of Hospitality, have created a 4-week Hospitality Program designed to provided Young People aged between 18 and 25 with the necessary skills and knowledge to be ready to commence working in the Hospitality Industry upon completion.
Hospo Prepped consists of 9 accredited Cert II and Cert III level Hospitality units, delivered by the RTO, covering both Front of House and Back of House areas of the industry. These units include Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA), Prepare and Serve Espresso Coffee, and Preparing Dishes Using Basic Methods of Cookery.
Youth Options also delivers our Pathfinder Career Development Program during Hospo Prepped, which gives Young People the tools they need to identify their own individual goals and career paths. Pathfinder also incorporates Industry Tours, where each cohort of Young People get to experience the day to day workings of various different Hospitality businesses around Adelaide.
Hospitality is an ideal industry for Young People to commence work in, be it part time whilst they work towards other goals or undertake further studies, or as a long-term career.
Construction Squad is a Regional Employment Trial (RET) that provided Jobseekers with the opportunity to develop employability skills and undertake training that will help them get employment.
Participants attained experience and skills by developing The Sensory Garden at The Station Youth Centre at Murray Bridge. They turned the wasteland adjacent to The Station into a sensational interactive and beautiful garden for all to enjoy.
Outcomes included jobs, first aid cert, white card, career development and getting their L’s.
Photos of the Graduation and the Garden are available on Facebook.
Congratulations to ALL the Participants! A BIG thank you to our partners and supporters including Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Rural City of Murray Bridge, Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland and Christine Willersdorf.
We achieved NDIS registration in March 2019 and are now able to help people living with a disability gain meaningful employment and participate in the community. Our service area ranges from the Adelaide Hills, Murray Bridge and our Sturt Street Youth Hub. We offer an individual and tailored service to meet the needs of each client.
This year we met “Jeff” who was struggling with relationships at work and was at risk of losing his job. We coached Jeff over the year to help learn new skills and understand workplace norms. We also helped Jeff’s employer understand why he was behaving the way he was and how they could better support him to be engaged at work. As a result, Jeff has a new position within his workplace which is better suited to his interests and skills. Today he feels like a valuable team member and isn’t worried about losing his job. Our experience with Jeff and his workplace shows that great results can be achieved when we work collaboratively.
The Pathfinder Program is acknowledged by our partners and stakeholders as a valuable and impactful service for their job seekers or students because it develops motivation, raises aspirations, provides a structured format to explore career opportunities and develop an action plan.
School Testimonial:
“The Pathfinder Program has been very beneficial to students at Birdwood High School. The students enrolled in the course were the students who were typically a behavioural problem, disengaged with school and not intending to get their SACE. They were the students who wanted to leave school and get a job, or students that were struggling with their learning and self-confidence. When the students began the pathfinder program, they were uncertain about their strengths, abilities and possible future jobs and careers. They lacked a sense of direction and purpose. After the course the home group teachers noted a difference in their behaviour and attitude to school. Course counselling and subject selection is normally a challenging time for home group teachers. Their comments to me were that the students who engaged in the Pathfinder program were very easy to work with. They engaged in the time made available for choosing subjects and this was a relatively easy task for them compared to students who had not done the course. The students continue to work on preparing themselves for the world of work by completing their resumes, asking for teachers to be referees and being proactive in finding out about and seeking employment and training”. – Assistant Principal, Birdwood High School
Student Testimonial:
“I feel like the Pathfinder program was very beneficial for me. It helped me understand what kind of career pathway to take and it defiantly broadened my mind to what I am capable of. I used to have the negative mindset that I couldn’t achieve big, but the pathfinder program changed my perception on things. I am really happy I decided to do the program, I believe I learned more in those 6 weeks than I did during actual school lessons.” – Shaya, Mt Barker High School
Our Career Services had an impact on many people over 2018/2019. It’s a vital service given that most people will have five to seven career changes over their working life.
“Ian” was injured whilst serving in the Australian Defence Force. He came to us to undertake a comprehensive career transition program supported by the ADF. After translating his defence skills and competencies and researching the labour market, Ian realised he wanted to re-train as a bookkeeper. We also helped him improve his job search skills with outstanding results. Ian was offered two jobs in just one week and has subsequently secured ongoing employment and tells us he loves his new career!
It just goes to show that the research is right. People who access qualified career development support are twice as likely to find work than those that don’t.
In April 2019, we commenced our Greenlight2Work program in the Murraylands to help address youth unemployment in the area with assistance to gain a learner’s permit to drive and career development support which includes knowledge about labour market opportunities in the region.
The program has had early success with participants like “Amy” who needed support to engage with the community, gain confidence, get her Learners permit and identify suitable career direction and opportunities. At first Amy was very shy. We gave her individual support until she was confident to engage with the small group. Once feeling more confident Amy joined the learner’s permit program and has since gained her learners permit. She was also given career development support where she was able to identify her strengths and passions. Amy now works at a local distribution centre and loves her job.
Our proudest moment for Amy was when she was able to help other participants learn their road rules towards the end of the program and stand up in front of the class to lead learning activities.
I am looking forward to Day 10 tomorrow. I can’t believe how quickly the last 5 weeks have flown by and how much I have learnt. I am also grateful for the new friends I have met along the way. What can I say except that I admire and appreciate the work done by two of the best co-ordinators/mentors in the business, Nate Overbeeke & Peter Dempsey. Can’t put this up on the site without also thanking Sasha Dragovelic for his complete support. The BizAbility Program has been an awesome experience and I would strongly promote the program to anyone who wants to take the next step forward, even, if like me, they didn’t realise that they could do it or that they wanted to.
Good Luck to all my new friends and I hope that your future brings you whatever it is that you are looking for. Personally, I wasn’t looking for anything when I bumped into Nate Overbeeke at an EXPO back on October 17th [2019] where we chatted and he told me about the BizAbility Program and took my details. In the background were Peter Dempsey and Sasha Dragovelic and apart from a nod and smile I had nothing to do with them until the program started. Thank you, guys, for your dedication, inspiration and support. I won’t ever forget it. 😀🌟💜😍
The Expanding Horizons: Girls Like Us program is an experiential learning program designed for girls in year 8 and 9 to inspire them to take up STEM subjects at school and raises their aspirations for exciting and rewarding STEM careers.
It’s easy to be cool. To be AMAZING requires STEM!
The program is run in an inspiring, flexible and engaging environment, where girls will identify projects they are interested in.
Our Expanding Horizons Coordinator will facilitate the program with your school and girls and will be supported by our STEM Mentors. We Will engage with leading female STEM professionals, academics and entrepreneurs to provide experiential learning experiences.
Over the ten weeks your girls will journey through learning to engage – explore – solve – collaborate – research – aspire – and celebrate – all while discovering exciting STEM pathways.
*this project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, and Science through the Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship Program.
The program is run i
