[Sub ID 4770] Works4Me (Works4Me)

Submission ID: 4770
Organisation name: Works4Me
Contact name: Ms Anne-Marie Elias
State: NSW
Contact email: chiefdisrupter@anne-marieelias.com
Contact number: 0418236546

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

What need or issue are you trying to address?
Many young people can’t fit into existing jobs or programs because they do not have the skills or experience or networks to access these. Without these opportunities young people will be on a welfare trajectory for most of their lives.

Young people at greater risk of long term unemployment include young carers, young parents and young students who experience an employment gap between education, caring and parenting responsibilities (FYA employment gap https://www.fya.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/The-New-Work-Mindset.pdf)

The increased casualisation of work creates opportunities for more flexible employment opportunities where young carers and parents can work around their commitments.

In 2015 there were 855,900 primary carers and of these 20,700 were young carers aged under 25. The ABS defines a carer as a person who is aged 15 years and over, who is the main provider of care for people of all ages with a disability.

In 2015 there were 8,574 parents aged 15 to 19, over 25% were Indigenous. Welfare dependency affects 73% of young parents who continue to rely on a form of government payment after ten years. There were 13,400 students aged 17-19 at risk of long term unemployment.

What is your idea?
Young people lack the skills and work experience to be confident to apply in the open job market. The added complexity for young parents and carers is access to flexible opportunities that meet their responsibilities of caring and parenting.

Works4Me has a focus on pre employment that prepares young people for the workforce. The marketplace is about preparing them to access mentoring, work experience and flexible employment opportunities to help them reach their goal.

Works4Me is a two sided online employment marketplace focused on connecting young under- and unemployed workers with flexible working opportunities. Our young “workstars” complete a skills and capability profile, enter their availability and are matched with employers who are seeking flexible workers. The marketplace provides access to curated training support, along with resume and interview skills designed to build capacity of young people.

The marketplace has the convenience of Uber with the functionality of Linkedin. On the employer side, the marketplace has the facility of a local community notice board where employers can post opportunities for young people. We match workstar’s skills and capacity to local training, internship and employment opportunities.

With a growing trend towards a casualised workforce, Works4Me brings convenience and connectability to both the young workstars seeking flexible work and the employers needing their skills.

We will engage young people from youth entrepreneur organisation, Vibewire, to work with the workstars to build their profile. We will work with employers to help them post opportunities for mentoring, work experience and flexible employment targeting young people.

We will collaborate with local corporates to create “speed dating events” that bring the workstars with potential employers to meet and greet events. As well as virtual opportunities to meet the workstars and connect with potential mentors and employers.

As a digital marketplace, Works4Me provides a scalable solution for young people and employers across the country.