Bulletin

BTG BULLETIN Issue 3 3

BTG

Bulletin

BTG Bulletin

March 2013

Issue Date

BRIDGING THE GAP’S JSA TEAM HAS RECEIVED AN OVERALL FIVE STAR RATING FROM DEEWR. IN THIS ISSUE

Bridging the Gap through a contract with Job Futures will commence Disability Employment Services (DES) this month after the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) awarded Job Futures the highest number of contracts in its Disability Employment Services tender.

Bridging the Gap Chief Executive Colin Kerr said providing an environment where clients can be comfortable and are treated individually in addressing their needs to transition to employment will all be key ingredients in the company’s approach to Disability Employment Services.

“We pride ourselves on taking a holistic and comprehensive approach to the job services we offer,” he said.

“All of our clients are all supported by members of staff that have a passion for helping them achieve their dreams.”

This comes as Bridging the Gap’s Job Services Australia team was awarded an overall five star rating from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Job Search Australia Regional Manager Jane McWhirter said she was exceptionally proud to see her team recognised for all the

contributions they make in assisting individual transitions into employment.

“We have offices extending from Rockingham to Wembley and from one office to the next you’ll find some of the most dedicated and passionate employment service workers,” she said.

“Our in-house approach to training tailored to meet our client’s needs, in particular our New Directions program, has seen us consistently and successfully transition our jobseekers into sustainable employment.”

Ms. McWhirter said her five star employment services team will apply the same ethos to Disability Employment Services clients.

“For us, the goalpost hasn’t changed,” she said.

“Our goal to make a difference in our client’s lives remains the same, that’s what we’re good at and that’s what we will continue to do.”

Bridging the Gap is providing Disability Employment Services in Kwinana, Mandurah, Pinjarra, Rockingham, Spearwood, Waroona and Wembley.

If you would like further information please contact our head office on 9550 1111.

Spotlight on Mentoring The spotlight was on the Department for Communities in late February as they presented findings from the research presented at the 2012 Australian Youth Mentoring Conference at a workshop hosted by Bridging the Gap and the City of Kwinana at the Zone Youth Centre.

More on Page 2

Supporters ‘Raleigh’ Bridging the Gap’s Crossing Point initiative, together with Fairbridge and various other supporters have bid Chelsea Simon adieu as she embarks on a transformational expedition with Bridging the Gap’s international partner, Raleigh.

More on Page 3

CYPFS

Bridging the Gap’s Head of Youth and Community, Linda Colley, talks candidly about a revolutionary program that is empowering youth workers and youth agencies across Australia.

More on Page 4

Five star DEStination

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BTG BULLETIN | Issue 3 March 2013 2

BTG Bulletin

Editor: Chloe Lawler | Design: Farrah Millar

10 Leghorn Street, Rockingham WA 6168 PO Box 675, Rockingham WA 6968

Phone: (08) 9550 1111 | Fax: (08) 9592 8217 mailbox@bridgingthegap.org.au

In late February more than 80 people from 35 organisations took part in the Department for Communities ‘Mentoring works? What doe the evidence say?’ Youth Mentoring Workshop hosted by Bridging the Gap and the City of Kwinana.

Here, agencies and service providers from around the region heard about the latest findings on mentoring presented by Donna Hamilton from the YMCA Big Brother Big Sister Program and Stuart Reid from the Department for Communities.

The workshop was opened by City of Kwinana Lord Mayor Carol Adams, with the crowd also being addressed by Federal Member for Brand Gary Gray.

Mr. Gray said it was very heartening to see such an engaged group of people attending the workshop.

“Funding to this program will help local young people achieve their goals and become the best people they can,” he said.

“It was very heartening to see such a committed group of people attending the workshop and I look forward to seeing the results of their hard work.”

Bridging the Gap’s Special Projects Coordinator Caroline Marshall said the initiative, which is coordinated by the Department for Communities with funding under the National Partnership of Youth Attainment, was important as research shows young people who remain in strong and personal mentoring relationships develop greater confidence and ambition for their educational pathway.

“The spotlight has been shone on youth mentoring and the best practices around it since the research has proven that mentoring works,” she said.

“We were very excited to join with our partnership broker CCIWA and be involved with this initiative as we consider it extremely important that youth and development teams understand the intimacies of the mentoring relationship.”

The Federal Government has contributed $1.15 million over four years to develop and implement the Youth Mentoring Reform Strategic Framework.

City of Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams with Bridging the Gap’s Youth Connections team and CCIWA’s Sean Wrigley.

Bridging the Gap CEO Colin Kerr with BTG team member Brad Robbins and Federal Member for Brand, Gary Gray.

Youth Mentoring Takes Centre Stage

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BTG BULLETIN | Issue 3 March 2013 3

BTG Bulletin

Editor: Chloe Lawler | Design: Farrah Millar

10 Leghorn Street, Rockingham WA 6168 PO Box 675, Rockingham WA 6968

Phone: (08) 9550 1111 | Fax: (08) 9592 8217 mailbox@bridgingthegap.org.au

BTG IN BRIEF

David Rendall in Kwinana

Students, educators, employers and parents are invited to join us for an informative session with world renowned inspirational speaker and comedian David Rendall to help you discover how to embrace your uniqueness and flaunt your weakness!

When: 10am-2pm Tuesday April 2, 2013. Where: Koorliny Arts Centre, Kwinana. Cost: $80 pp including a FREE book and CD To book or for more information visit: david-rendall-perth.eventbrite.com

Expertise for JSA

Bridging the Gap would like to congratulate staff member Cherie McAuliffe who has recently completed her Certificate III in Indigenous Workplace Mentoring.

Correction

Bridging the Gap would like to take this opportunity to provide the following clarification:

The Young Parents’ Program (previously referred to as HYPE) is a collaborative program between: The Department of Human Services, Better Futures Local Solutions, Bridging the Gap, Challenger, Gilmore College, KEYS, Meerilinga, The Smith Family and SMYL.

The crèche facility provided to the young parents is funded by the Australian Government Department of Human Services through the Better Futures Local Solutions initiative.

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Make sure you don’t miss out! Scan the QR code or visit http://eepurl.com/tKTHP and subscribe to BTG today!

A 10 day trek through a rainforest in Borneo and seven days dedicated to reef rehabilitation off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. Working on community and environmental projects to improve health and educational services and living and working among some of the most rural communities in the world helping to make a genuine difference to those living below the poverty line. Sound powerful? With the help of Fairbridge Village Gen-Y’er Chelsea Simon has just undertaken the adventure of a lifetime, joining fellow Crossing Point participants Morgan Biggs and Rebecca Troode, in Borneo.

Raleigh, Bridging the Gap’s international partner, runs adventure expeditions in Borneo, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Tanzania for young people of all nationalities and backgrounds. Here, participants work on sustainable and worthwhile community and environmental projects alongside young people from the host country and local skilled workers.

Fairbridge Western Australia Inc. Chief Executive Mark Anderson said it was a very easy decision to continue supporting Chelsea and assist her in the next stage of her development through a Raleigh expedition.

“The Raleigh International expedition to Borneo is a great opportunity for Chelsea to give back but to also continue her journey, increasing her leadership and community development skills,” he said.

Bridging the Gap’s Head of Youth Development Andy Wahid said his Crossing Point team have now supported over 45 young people, including volunteer staff, connect with Raleigh International and participate in a life changing expedition.

“We sent our first young people on expedition in 2007, four years after Raleigh International’s first expedition back to Sabah,” he said.

“December of 2012 marked 10 years of continual Raleigh presence in the area, and as Raleigh’s first country director in the area I was delighted to be invited to celebrate the huge impact the expeditions have had both on the volunteers and the people of Sabah.”

Mr. Wahid, alongside Crossing Point and Raleigh participant Jason Tambling (22) travelled to Sabah as guests of the Deputy Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport for the 10 year anniversary.

Mr. Tambling, who hails from an indigenous community approximately 250km east of Darwin, originally participated in a Crossing Point expedition in 2011 together with 11 others from remote locations in the Northern Territory.

With the support of Bridging the Gap, Crossing Point and Ironbark, Mr. Tambling went on to complete a Raleigh International expedition in Borneo the following year.

“The entire process was a completely life changing experience,” Mr. Tambling said.

“It has really allowed me to encourage and inspire young people, particularly young Aboriginal people.”

A full list of Chelsea’s sponsors and supporters includes: Andy Gulliver and David Cullen from CWISE, Bridging the Gap Job Futures, Crossing Point, David Kerr, Department of Indigenous Affairs, Don Randall, Chris Biddle and the Westwide Roofing team, Fairbridge Western Australia Inc., Geoff Prendergast, Ian Williams A.O., John Tuckey and the Mitre 10 team, Rotary Mandurah, Rotary Pinjarra, Safety Bay Pharmacy, Vicki Gill and the William Newbury Scholarship Foundation.

For further information on the Crossing Point initiative please contract head office on 9550 1111 or visit crossingpoint.org.au

Chelsea Simon (third from left) pictured with various sponsors and supporters, including Bridging the Gap’s Head of Youth Development Andy Wahid.

Raleigh-ing behind Chelsea

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BTG BULLETIN | Issue 3 March 2013 4

BTG Bulletin

Editor: Chloe Lawler | Design: Farrah Millar

10 Leghorn Street, Rockingham WA 6168 PO Box 675, Rockingham WA 6968

Phone: (08) 9550 1111 | Fax: (08) 9592 8217 mailbox@bridgingthegap.org.au

Coaching Young People for Success is a turn-key youth coaching program that is gaining momentum across schools and youth services across Australia, enabling youth professionals, counselors and educators to deliver modules addressing life, career and school performance to groups or one-on-one within their school or agency.

Bridging the Gap’s Head of Youth and Community Linda Colley said this revolutionary youth development program is a must for anyone working with young people.

“Coaching Young People for Success places an emphasis on empowering an individual to make conscious decisions that are directly going to affect their lives and benefit them in the future,” she said.

“We enroll all of our youth workers in the Coaching Young People for Success program and I strongly believe this enables them to empower the young people they work with.”

Youth worker Robert Bray said he found the training very beneficial for the work he aims to do with young people.

“It assists to break down any barriers that may be preventing a young person from reaching their full potential,” he said.

“Coaching Young People for Success gives assistance to build rapport and form a solid relationship to assist a young person on their journey into adulthood.”

“I’d definitely recommend it to anyone working with young people,” Mr. Bray continued.

If you would like more information on how you can empower young people please contact Karen Ward on 9550 1111.

CYPFS – A Recipe for Success