The Police and Citizens Youth Club, St Kilda
The Police and Citizens Youth Club provides accommodation for up to seven young adults who have been identified by the Salvation Army's Upton Road Accommodation and Learning Centre as showing a capacity and desire to live independently, but who still require a level of support to reach this goal. The PCYC house, at Inkerman Street, St. Kilda, has a kitchen, but no further space for congregation. It is proposed that a pod will be built to serve as a functional communal space for the residents to gather, cook, relax, learn life skills, and build relationships. The proposed pod will include a kitchen, laundry, dining/meeting table and lounge. The pod, measuring approximately 4 x 7m will be manufactured off site and transported to the property and then fitted out on site.
The project is to be managed by a collaborative partnership of RMIT University Project Management students under the guidance of SEMZ Property Advisory and Project Management. SEMZ have also communicated the project to their network and multiple additional parties have pledged their support - in both cash and in kind.
The Synergy Automotive Repairs Program (Synergy) - Mission Australia
Synergy is a diversionary social enterprise aimed at positively impacting the lives of young people aged 16-20 years involved in motor vehicle offending (e.g. theft, /vandalism). The program was developed to capitalise on their interest in cars to develop pathways to sustainable and meaningful employment in a field that matches their interests.
Synergy offers a full suite of smash repair services. The participants who are referred through Mission Australia/Victoria Police/Juvenile Corrections, gain practical experience/employability skills needed to commence a panel beating or spray-painting apprenticeship and work towards Certificate II in Automotive Body from Kangan TAFE. Synergy, in partnership with Suncorp Insurance, has access to 91 repairers that can take on apprentices after graduation.
Synergy also focuses on addressing barriers to employment/building the participants’ life skills/ personal development. This integrated approach distinguishes the Synergy from other juvenile offending diversion programs. An Employment/Training Officer provides participants with practical support including housing assistance/court support, and addresses issues creating barriers to employment.
On attainment of competencies and indicators of employment readiness, participants graduate and are placed into a 4-year apprenticeship. Participants continue to receive support /mentoring 2 years post-graduation.
Mission Australia
Mission Australia’s primary objective is to reduce homelessness/strengthen communities across Australia. The organisations goal is to help people regain their independence by offering a wide range of integrated long term solutions, through homelessness initiatives, affordable housing, early learning/youth services, family support/employment/skills development. We stand together with Australians in need, until they can stand for themselves.
Digital Storytelling Program - Sharing Stories Foundation
Sharing Stories Foundation (SSF) conducted its Digital Storytelling Program (DSP) in five Victorian communities: Shepparton, Mildura, Swan Hill, Thornbury, and Heywood. During the program Koorie and non-Koorie young people worked with Custodians to record and interpret a local traditional story, through illustration, animation and sound design. These stories have been housed in engaging, interactive multi-touch books. The communities have expressed the need for the stories to be available in written/spoken traditional languages: in Shepparton, Bangerang; Swan Hill, Wemba Wemba; Heywood, Gunditjimara; Thornbury, Wurundjeri; Mildura (3 language groups), Barkandji/Paakantyi, Ngiymapaa, and Mutthi Mutthi.
This project supports the hiring of a Koorie Project Manager, linguists, and custodians in each community to complete the language capabilities in each book, creating bi/multi-lingual written and spoken interactive versions of the stories. This resource enables custodians to be able to share their stories confidently using their language with Koorie children and community. The completed bi/multi-lingual books will serve as inspiring culturally-relevant educational resources for teachers, communities, Language and Culture Nests (LCNs) and supporting the Local Aboriginal Educational Consultative Groups (LAECGs).
Sharing Stories Foundation
Sharing Stories work with Indigenous communities to protect, maintain and grow language, stories and cultural heritage through digital technologies and vibrant artistic art forms for the benefit of all children today and future generations tomorrow.
Youth 2 Youth - Lord Somers Camp and Power House
The Youth2Youth (Y2Y) project is a volunteer-led annual working bee, often described as The Block for Social Good. Approximately 60 young volunteers from Lord Somers Camp and Power House donate a weekend of their time to work on a specific renovation, improvement or clean-up project for a community or social organisation that support disadvantaged or vulnerable people. The Y2Y started out organically in 2011 with a group of young people wanting to help the communities affected by the floods.
In 2016, with the support of The Jack Brockhoff Foundation, Y2Y successfully renovated two respite homes for Able Australia in Bonbeach and Dandenong. Lord Somers Camp and Able Australia were extremely happy with the outcome of the project which resulted in significant improvements to both respite homes and carers at both homes reported an increase in wellbeing in residents.
Lord Somers Camp and Power House
Lord Somers Camp and Power House (LSC&PH) implements programs aimed at achieving their vision of a stronger, more inclusive society that is created through service to others. It is a diverse and intergenerational volunteer-led, community organisation which implements challenging and experience-based programs that engage with people of all ages. Through implementing programs that serve the community, their volunteers also gain exposure to life-changing experiences in a fun and supportive environment.