[Sub ID 4693] Workplace readiness skills for young students (Bridging Worx)

Submission ID: 4693
Organisation name: Bridging Worx
State: VIC

Which priority group of the Try, Test and Learn Fund does your idea support?
Young students at risk of long-term unemployment

What need or issue are you trying to address?
Bridging Worx was founded in 2010 and was established as a not for profit community organisation, that provides social and community development for disadvantaged multicultural communities in Victoria. We have dedicated our service delivery towards Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and Indigenous communities who face disadvantage. Over the last six years, Bridging Worx has delivered programs and events to ensure we continue to strive towards building resilient communities.

We recognize that working with LSES young people who have disengaged (from education) is a growing issue that needs to be addressed from several fronts.

Our mentoring work implemented through schools, diversionary, reintegration and employment programs has given our organisation insights into some of the complex issues that face the priority cohort that we are looking to work with. We know that LSES groups have les access to HE/tertiary education and those that do participate have lower achievement and retention rates. We also know that once students disengage with their studies that it is highly unlikely that they will re-engage. We want to look at providing viable learning and employment options and pathways for students who have disengaged with their studies.

What is your idea?
We are looking to provide a tangible education and employment pathway for referred young people into Workplace readiness program – based on a highly successful program that we have already run called Fresh Start. Fresh Start 2.0 will implement a newly developed Supported Jobs and Pathways Program model; that will see program participants learn workplace readiness skills while having the opportunity to be placed in a guaranteed employment pathway and undertaking a formal qualification that will assist with their career development.

The pilot program will look to place participants in 3 different industries: Youth Support. Residential Care and Disabilities Support. The program will consist of three elements:
1) Job preparedness: Job seeking skills, workplace expectations, career development
2) On the job experience: Opportunity to have work experience in their chosen career pathway
3) Formal qualification that supports their identified employment pathway: Certificate level qualification completed

The expected outcomes of the program are:
– Participants to have gainful employment
– Transferable job seeking and
– Workplace readiness skills

The program will also be tailored to explore issues that have driven capable students to disengage from their tertiary study and identify a flexible learning model that will work for them.