[Sub ID 4741] Productivity bootcamp paid employment extension (Productivity Bootcamp)

Submission ID: 4741
Organisation name: Productivity Bootcamp
Contact name: Miss Rebecca Deep
State: NSW
Contact email: rebecca@productivitybootcamp.com.au
Contact number: 0478651307

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?
We hope to address generational welfare dependency through an approach that focuses on preventing young people needing to access welfare along with assisting those that are receiving welfare to gain meaningful employment.

In our experience we have observed a large number of young people attempting to gain employment and move away from welfare but have struggled to overcome the numerous barriers that they need to address in order to be successful in the workplace. One of the most challenging barriers lies with those that do not have positive home environments and live in conditions that involve domestic violence, substance abuse and destructive behaviours. In some cases we find that young people feel guilt when gaining employment as their family and/or friends discourage this due to their own perceptions and perhaps self-esteem, regarding employment.

Another major barrier is substance abuse of young people themselves and even when there is high motivation to change this behaviour they find it difficult to break the addiction due to unwillingness to access services and/or pressure from family or friends to continue the habit. This makes sustaining employment very difficult. Due to the mandatory drug testing requirements on many construction projects, it makes entering this industry very difficult.

What is your idea?
Our idea involves extending the current Productivity Bootcamp in Construction program with a 3-6 month paid employment project in rural or remote parts of Australia working with farming communities.

Productivity Bootcamp is an 8 week program that uses a unique style of training to engage, motivate and arm young people with the skills and attitude to be valuable and productive employees within the Construction industry. The style of training mixes hands-on, practical training delivered outdoors, with psychology techniques and strategies to change and shape the way young people view work. At present, 87% of graduates have moved in to employment and 9% have re-engaged in school.

The employment project would allow young people to address some of their barriers in a new environment, would involve the presence of a Youth Development Worker that focuses supporting them through this and on building their life skills along with supporting them to transition back to their community and maintain meaningful employment. We strongly believe that this will provide them with the necessary skills to maintain long-term employment.