Children & Youth

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS PLUS - SUPPORT FOR A CLUSTER OF VICTORIAN REGIONAL SCHOOLS

Disadvantage was already the single biggest factor affecting children’s learning, and the impact of the 2020 bushfires and the coronavirus has only exacerbated this disadvantage. Australian Schools Plus (Schools Plus) is a national charity that connects donors with schools in disadvantaged areas. They maximise the impact of donations by developing school leader’s capacity to design, deliver and evaluate strategic projects.

Schools Plus is working with state and federal education departments, other not-for-profit organisations and their network of schools to support the mental health, wellbeing and learning needs of students affected by these unprecedented disasters. This grant will support a cluster of schools in Regional Victoria Test.

CULTIVATING COMMUNITY - GET INTO CULTIVATING COMMUNITY

Get into Cultivating Community will be a pathway for local young people from public housing locations to understand food systems and horticulture with a view of developing their motivation to choose it as a meaningful and informed career pathway or enterprise concept.

Over 12 sessions (2 per month) the Cultivating Community leadership team and external experts will provide participants with experience developing their own market garden, running the High Rise Baking enterprise, taking part in cooking sessions and designing and setting up a pop up kitchen for their friends, family and other members of the local community. Integrated into these practical and immersive situations will be leadership development tools that can help each participant to grow as leaders.

SOCIAL STUDIO - YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Social Studio provides a range of training and employment opportunities to young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds who have experienced barriers to accessing education and/or securing employment. The Youth Development Program has been designed to formalise and increase the support given to youth participants, with the aim of supporting transitions into employment or further education.

Staffed by a Youth Coordinator and the CEO, the Youth Development Program will increase support for TSS' participants' transition in to employment or further education by providing a dedicated program of holistic wraparound support to address such barriers as English language proficiency, job readiness and life circumstances.

HoMie

This is HoMie’s own accredited retail training and education program for young people (18-25) affected by homelessness or hardship. Every year, HoMie selects young people from one of their partnered Alliance Support Services to participate in an eight-month paid on-the-job work experience at the HoMie Street Store or a HoMie Alliance trained business. Upon successful completion of the paid HoMie Pathway Alliance internship, HoMie interns will graduate with: Certificate III in Retail; six-months retail work-experience; eight months personal development training to build improved confidence, resilience, self-aspirations and life-skills; and a permanent place in the HoMie Alumni community.