Pre-employment program sees life-changing results
Dec 14, 2018
Whitelion Y4Y Youth Force is a ground-breaking new program currently based in the Whitelion West Melbourne Office. Funded by DSS as part of the Try, Test and Learn Fund, Whitelion Y4Y began as an idea – could the new world of work and ‘gig’ economy contribute to solving youth unemployment? Over the course of eight pilots, Y4Y Youth Force will work with 80 young people aged 18-24 years old to answer this question.
Over the last six months West Melbourne staff have become familiar with the program as they have given their expertise as facilitators, provided tasks for the participants and interacted with the cohort around the office. As we near the end of 2018, the Y4Y team are in the final stages of the third pilot and recruiting for the fourth program. As such, it seemed like an appropriate time to catch up with one of the first program participants and introduce the Y4Y program to the larger Whitelion community.
Nadya found Whitelion at a time in her life when she was homeless. She heard of our organisation through word of mouth, and referred herself to the Employment team in mid-2017. While she built a great relationship with her Employment worker Tyronne she soon became ineligible for the program when she became a DSS client. Luckily Tyronne didn’t forget Nadya and when Y4Y were recruiting for Pilot 1, he sent her an invitation to a mini Taster Day. Nadya was the sole person to come to the Whitelion office that day, and bravely stayed to learn about the program, despite thinking perhaps she had been pranked with the offer of free pizza! Nadya ended the day hopeful that she would be accepted into the program. The Y4Y team watched Nadya go, and were hopeful that she would accept the offer that they had already decided to make.
Pilot 1 began on June 19th 2018 with Nadya as one of eight young people putting their trust in the Whitelion Y4Y Team. Over the next ten weeks, Nadya became an integral member of the Y4Y Task Force, always willing to give anything a go, be it repairing bikes for local refugee children, cleaning the Chatterbox Bus that reaches out to homeless young people in Melbourne, or learning how to use a Whipper Snipper. While at times she was unsure how she felt about being asked to do these things, she soon noticed some changes in herself.
Feeling comfortable with her new friends, Nadya found herself being more sociable than in the past - quite the change for her. Nadya continued to push her limits. At times tasks helped her realise what she didn’t want to do. She also began to realise that she didn’t want to finish the program and not have a plan for what was to come next. Nadya decided that she wanted to go back to school and complete her Year 12 studies that she had stopped early 2016.
After chatting about this briefly with the Y4Y Support and Pathways Coordinator, Nadya took the initiative, and went about re-enrolling herself in her old school, St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre in North Melbourne. She is now working towards finishing her Year 12.
Graduating with a full Bronze Level micro-credential and a new CV full of positive testimonials, Nadya also left the 10 week program feeling more capable, knowing that she did not want to be a barista, but also knowing that if she wanted to travel the world, she has that skill in her back pocket to earn money to support her travels. Feeling capable in her skills, but disappointed that the program was over, Nadya decided to concentrate on her studies. She maintained contact with the Y4Y Community and staff plus continued to make steps forward. Nadya set up an ABN to assist in potential job opportunities and investigated opportunities to use her self-taught skills in special effects make up.
Recently the SCR Group, offered a temporary paid role with their team to assist as part of the Melbourne launch of National Recycling Week. Y4Y asked their graduates for expressions of interest and Nadya put herself forward for the role. She attended an induction and orientation with SCR Group staff and then spent a week working alongside full-time SCR employees at the launch of the new Feel Good Clothing Hub in Bourke St Mall. Nadya impressed her colleagues with her ability to be positive, use initiative and her high work ethic. As a result she was referred to a SCR Group contact for a job interview and is currently in a paid work trial.
When asked about her feelings about Y4Y, Nadya says that it is better than any other program that she had been forced to complete by her Job Provider in the past. Whitelion is a volunteer program. “You don’t get harassed. They tell you, you need work experience, so go get work experience. Y4Y helped me get that experience. I can see Y4Y being Australia-wide. This program will give you something, in some way, shape or form.”
Whitelion Y4Y Youth Force will continue to learn and grow over the next 12 months as we run five more pilots. We are always looking for facilitators willing to share their story and teach our cohort new skills, as well as donations of tasks (small, 3-4 hours that you or your business need help with). Tasks provide the young people with opportunities to practice their new skills and gain experience, confidence and testimonials. And, of course, we are always looking for young people aged 18 – 24, not currently working or studying, to take part. To become part of the Whitelion Y4Y Community, please contact Pilot Leader Bec Smith at bec.smith@whitelion.asn.au.