In a bid to empower young people, local social enterprise Green Connect has created an employment initiative called Strive For Success. This jobs program, launched in collaboration with Homebase Youth Services, has already started to have a positive impact in the Illawarra, helping young people find mainstream work.

Zoe Matthews, job coach at Green Connect, told us more.

How is Green Connect affiliated with the Strive for Success program?

Green Connect, along with Homebase Youth Services (Foster/Tuncurry) received funding via the Paul Ramsay grant foundation to create Strive For Success. Strive For Success is a new youth employment initiative that maintains a holistic approach in supporting young people to become work ready and secure mainstream employment.

Green Connect has the advantage of supporting young people with the Work Readiness Program, Green Connections gardening and counselling program, farm/op shop volunteering and multitude of experienced and caring team members all working towards the common goal of assisting people and the planet.

What training is available through Green Connect?

Along with our Work Readiness Program, where people can learn hands-on skills, such as brush-cutting and waste-management, they’re also equipped with the knowledge of what’s required of them to work in Australia. They will learn about superannuation, tax and their working rights.

At Strive For Success, we are also able to assist young people to enrol into TAFE, community colleges, certificates such as First Aid/Barista and also one-on-one resume writing, living skills, and general job-readiness guidance.

How many people do you have in training?

As a new program, we’re currently assisting approximately 30 young people in the Illawarra, with more room to grow!

Why should young people join this program?

The job coaches at Strive For Success have worked in the Community Services sector, primarily with young people, for many years and understand the difficulties that come along with entering into adulthood. Strive For Success is a safe, non-judgemental environment where an individual’s choices are fostered and celebrated.

Strive For Success is free, flexible and, most importantly, fun!

What roles can Green Connect prepare people for?

There are no limits to what our job coaches can assist young people with. We will research a chosen career to become familiar with the sector to best support our young people. Some current roles that young people have chosen are: truck driving, photography, IT, animal care … the variation is great!

Anything else we should know?

Figuring out what to do after school or how to get into your favourite industry can be scary and confusing. We’re more than Job Coaches, we’re able to assist with mentoring, Centrelink navigation, referrals to suitable organisations and much more.

We’re here to support you every step of the way! We believe in flexibility and whatever suits the individual so, if that means our work gets done over a milkshake in a park, then we’re all for it!

For more information:

• Check out striveforsuccess.org.au to fill out an enquiry form.
• Contact the Green Connect Facebook page.
• Call the Green Connect office on 4243 1537 or the HomeBase office on 6555 8922.
• Contact Zoe (Job Coach) directly on 0429 555 459 or zoe.matthews@green-connect.com.au.

Alternatively, pop into the op shop office at 37 Princes Highway, Unanderra and chat to a Green Connect team member.