[Sub ID 4813] Project Self-Discovery (MDA LTD)

Submission ID: 4813
Organisation name: MDA LTD
Contact name: Ms Jill Armstrong
State: QLD
Contact email: jilla@mdaltd.org.au
Contact number: 0749212222

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?
This project aims to provide an evidence based service refined to the needs of each target group. Modelled on the Icelandic ‘Project Self-Discovery’ the aim is to understand the underlying factors that are barriers to employment and to identify and increase those factors that increase employment participation.

What is your idea?
Project Self-Discovery surveyed 14, 15 and 16 year olds to better understand the risk and protective factors involved in teenage drug taking (https://mosaicscience.com/story/iceland-prevent-teen-substance-abuse . They then developed a program that increased protective factors and decreased risk factors. Drinking and smoking rates were reduced by 30%.

Our project would take a similar approach to understand unemployment. By surveying the community the risk and protective factors could be identified in each group in different communities. What are the differences between people who are working and those to struggle to find work or are disengaged? A program designed around those factors would assist in overcoming long-term unemployment. For example participation in sporting and recreational activities is often seen as having a positive impact on engagement as well as physical and psychological wellbeing. The study would test whether this also has a correlation with employment outcomes. This project is easy to target to the needs of particular sub groups such as young carers and early school leavers.