The Live N Learn Foundation is pleased to announce the successful youth employment mentoring program, Break Through, will be offered to Indigenous people in the communities of La Perouse and Botany. The Live N Learn Foundation and David Puckeridge are partnering with the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council to introduce the Break Through program to assist Indigenous people prepare for work, identify career goals and gain employment. The initiative is a part of the La Perouse Aboriginal Land Council’s employment and economic development plan activity and will be offered with the support of funding from the Australian Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) as an Indigenous Employment Program.

“We are excited by this opportunity to offer the successful program to an Indigenous community and are committed to learning how it can be adapted to meet specific needs”, Live N Learn Director Aaron Maher said. “We have worked closely with the community to understand their priorities and see it is an important step for them and for the Live N Learn Foundation as we work to our goal of expanding the scale of our programs”, he said.

The youth employment mentoring approach was developed by the Live N Learn Foundation in 2004 and has proven to be an effective support to youth in Sydney’s south-western region; with approximately 80% of participants gaining employment and 60% undertaking further training in pursuit of career goals. “We are obviously pleased by the job outcomes, but are equally motivated by the personal transformations the program allows”, Live N Learn Foundation Operations Director Helen Gray said. The Live N Learn Foundation participates in the development of new programs or  the establishment of programs to fulfil objectives of alleviating social exclusion. “This new program will give us another chance to develop as we work with community to offer support to Indigenous people in such a distinct location”, she said.

The Live N Learn Foundation is dedicated to assisting young people,  aged 16 to 25, achieve a transition to independence and recognise the importance stable accommodation, achieving education and employment play. “The use of employment mentoring has proven to be a practical way of helping young people overcome barriers to employment and a logical way of engaging local business”, Aaron Maher said. “We see our roles as being to look after business participation and partner with other communities or organisations to make the program more widely accessible”, he said.

More information about the Live N Learn Foundation can be found at www.livenlearn.com.au  youth employment mentoring can be found at www.break-through.com.au.

The Live N Learn Foundation welcomes the Australian Government’s continued support for Live N Learn’s youth employment mentoring program Break Through. “We are grateful to the Department of Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) for their offer to further extend program funding”: Live N Learn Chairwoman Anne-Maree Huxley said. “The funding will allow us to continue to offer the Break Through program in conjunction with community services and Job Services Australia providers to young people in Macarthur for another year”.

The Break Through program unites young people seeking employment with trained mentors drawn from the local business community to focus upon identifying realistic plans to target and gain employment.

The funding extension continues an original commitment from FaHCSIA which commenced in 2006 and will enable Break Through and its mentors to assist an additional 20 young people develop a personalised employment plan, learn and improve skills and overcome barriers preventing them from entering the workforce.

Program Coordinator, Tracy Dunn, said: “It was a testament to the young people and the achievements they have had to date and the dedication of the mentors that led to the funding being continued”.  Originally intended as a Community Solution project, the ongoing FaHCSIA support recognises the programs positive community impact, supporting local services and youth and engaging business.

“The commitment of so many local businesses wanting to help kids get into work and reach their potential gives the program something truly unique. They offer the young people real encouragement and open up access to a network of employers that is usually out of reach to them” Tracy said.

Break Through is an initiative of the Live N Learn Foundation created in 2004 in conjunction with partners, TAFE NSW South Western Sydney Institute and Liverpool City Council, in response to growing youth unemployment. 

The Live N Learn Foundation is dedicated to assisting disadvantaged youth make successful transitions into independence and recognises the importance suitable accommodation, ongoing education and obtaining employment play in achieving that goal.  

For further information on how to become a mentor, or how to be accepted into the program to help gain employment, please contact Tracy on 0420308324. For more information on the program, please contact: tracy@livenlearn.com.au, or to offer support to Live N Learn contact: info@livenlearn.com.au.

The Break Through Youth Employment Mentoring program has seen some spectacular outcomes achieved by the young people participating in the program.   Young people referred from Job Services Australia providers (formerly Job Network), in particular, embraced the extra support and worked cooperatively with a mentor to achieve their goals.

78.6% of JSA participants achieved an employment outcome.  Employment outcomes included: full-time, casual, part- time, contract, work experience and volunteering positions.  The areas in which the young people found employment were quite varied; including: alcohol/drug counseling, apprenticeships/traineeships, automotive, business administration, childcare, healthcare, hospitality, labouring, retail, sports/recreation and warehousing/factory/logistics.

As part of their employment plans, many young people opted to engage in short RTO run courses or enroll in longer term TAFE accredited certificate courses.

50% of JSA participants achieved an education outcome.   Areas of study included: alcohol and drug counseling, automotive, childcare, IT, logistics and RSA/RCG.

These outcomes brought about significant changes to the lives of the young people and those closest to them; however, these outcomes would not have been possible without first addressing the underlying issues/barriers preventing the young people from entering the workforce.   For many, they experienced powerful changes in their own behaviour, attitudes and skills sets.  Mentees had self professed improvements in self-confidence/self-esteem, awareness of strengths/capabilities and how to overcome limitations, communication skills (verbal; in person and via phone, written), organisational skills (planning ahead and for the future), time management skills, understanding of the workforce and expectations, job searching and application submitting, hygiene, knowledge of services and where to ask for help, motivation and/or role modeling.

100% of JSA participants identified one or more of these personal development outcomes.

Tracy Dunn, the Break Through Coordinator, has said: ‘the most rewarding outcomes are those that see the young person’s confidence improve and to see the young people realize their potential and want to move forward into a career.  The overall positive effect that mentoring can have on the young person and the people closest to them is tremendous’.

There is no better way to have an impact on your community than to help a young person develop the confidence and skills needed to enter the workforce and become a contributing member of society.

Break Through Mentoring is currently seeking mentors for its TAFE ‘Mentoring in the Community’ course scheduled to begin in October 2009.  This is a FREE course offered to those employees, wanting to be a mentor, from businesses that are willing to support the program.  

If your organisation is located in the Campbelltown/Macarthur area and sees value in community involvement, give Break Through a call on 0420 308 324.  The Program Coordinator is happy to answer any questions you have and provide further information.

Young locals are getting more help, than ever, finding employment thanks to a new partnership between Break Through and BoysTown.

Break Through Coordinator, Tracy Dunn, said it is a shared desire to help young people reach their potential that brought the services together.

“Break Through pairs young people, who are struggling to find employment, with mentors who are already in the workforce, while BoysTown offers youth specific Job Network services,” she said.

“Since the partnership began, ten young people referred from BoysTown have entered into a mentoring relationship.  To date, seven have found sustainable employment.”

BoysTown Regional Manager, Sharen Morton, said that 20 year old Karen came to Boystown with a dream of entering the fashion industry.

“It was enormously beneficial to refer Karen to Break Through to improve her confidence and give her an idea of what to expect when entering the job market,” she said.

“When Karen secured a job interview for an entry level position at a shoe company, her mentor Carol from Paul Wakeling Motors gave her the employer’s perspective.  Carol’s support played a big part in Karen’s success at the interview. 

“And the relationship doesn’t end when the young people find a job - mentors stay in contact to provide essential feedback, reassurance and encouragement.”

Break Through and BoysTown look forward to working together throughout 2008 and are hoping to assist more young people to realise their dreams and find lasting employment.

Break Through Mentoring is a service of the Live N Learn Foundation.  It is federally funded under the Local Answers programme.

BoysTown is a federally funded Job Network Service Provider, who is dedicated to finding jobs for young people (15-25 years).

For further information please contact:

Tracy Dunn

 0420 308 324 

 tracy@livenlearn.com.au.

Break Through Youth Employment Mentoring has been affecting change in the lives of local youth since launching in Campbelltown/Macarthur in March 2007.  Break Through aims to build the skills sets of young people to assist them to realize their employment goals.  This is done through building a 1:1 mentoring relationship with a locally employed person, who is able to use their contemporary knowledge and experience of the workforce to support the young person.

Break Through was invited to attend the Minto Employment Working Group in September 2007 by Gloria Bates of MTC Work Solutions.  This was an opportunity to work closely with those other services working in the area to improve employment outcomes for the residents of Minto.  Not only were services represented, but industry as well; showing their interest to improving the community.

Unilever/Streets are one of the largest employers in the area and are represented on this working group.  They value community involvement and desire to give back to the community in which they operate.  They also believe that the Minto population has skills that could benefit their organization.

Unilever/Streets were actively seeking a program that would offer their employees the opportunity to work directly within the local community.  Break Through was able to offer an option that allowed them to play an active role in empowering youth from the area to strive for their employment goals and learn the skills needed to succeed.  

Currently, Break Through is running its third TAFE Mentoring in the Community course, which is being hosted by Unilever/Streets at their Minto plant.   Not only have they offered to have the course onsite, but have seven employees committed to being a mentor.  This is a commitment that goes above and beyond what is expected from supporting businesses.

Unilever/Streets are one of four businesses committed to this round of training.  Break Through would like to acknowledge the valued and continued support of Camden Council, National Australia Bank and St. George Bank.

It is only by working together to building strong community networks and business relationships that it’s possible to impart change in the lives of the young people and, in turn, a lasting impact on the community as a whole.