Rugby heroes to join MA staff at Brisbane Winter Sleepout

Queensland Reds and Wallabies players Radike Samo and twins Saia and Anthony Faingaa will tonight join a group of Mission Australia staff from the Brisbane South Employment Solutions team sleeping rough to raise money for our homeless services.

Mission Australia’s Elia Tuqiri said staff taking part in the Sleepout at Citipoint Church are aiming to raise up to $10,000 to help people experiencing homelessness.

“In my job I meet a lot of people who are desperately looking for work as they are at risk of losing their home, or worse, are already homeless,” Elia said.

“In many cases, it’s not just individuals who are homeless, but families with young children without a stable home. Many are couch-surfing at friends’ places or sleeping in their car, because they haven’t got a place of their own. In the toughest cases they are sleeping rough in our community.

“I often think of myself as very lucky to have stable full time employment and the ability to pay my rent, have food on the table and a safe place to shower and sleep.

“Sometimes we take these things for granted – and that is why we have organised this Winter Sleepout to build awareness and raise important funding for Mission Australia’s homeless services.”

Former Reds player, Charlie Fetoai will also share how he turned his life around after suffering a serious spinal injury that brought his Rugby Union career to an end.

Charlie now works as a Mission Australia Indigenous Employment program mentor, helping young Indigenous men and women to overcome challenges in their own lives and get the training and support they need to find work.

“When I suffered a serious spinal injury on the field, I went from the highest point in my life – doing what I loved, playing professional rugby – to the lowest point, where I was terrified I might not walk again,” Charlie said.

“It was through self belief, staying positive and the support of my family, friends and team mates that I was able to recover and walk again. The experience completely changed my outlook on life, and has motivated me to help others who are struggling with barriers in their lives that are holding them back.

“The Winter Sleepout is a great cause, aimed at helping people out there who are struggling with circumstances hard for any of us to imagine – and that is why I am pleased to be a part of this event.”

There will be performances by school and dance groups from 6:30pm and the players will be signing autographs from 6pm.

Meanwhile on the Gold Coast, more than 30 staff from Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions offices and the crew from Southport Rotaract Club offices will brave the winter tonight to raise money for the homeless.

Good luck to all everyone camping out tonight for Winter Sleepout to help us reach our $250,000 fundraising target. To find out more about Winter Sleepout or to make a donation, visit: www.wintersleepout.com.au

Thanks to our City2Surfers for going the distance
Huge thanks to the 150 people who ran, walked and even skipped the 14km in last weekend’s Sun-Herald City2Surf in support of Mission Australia. There was a blur of red and white singlets in almost every category of the event, from the speedy runners to the walkers.

A few even ran the whole distance in their PJs, in support of our Winter Sleepout. Along the way hundreds of well-wishers, including Senator Mark Arbib and NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, offered their support.

Of all our fundraising supporters, first-time City2Surfer Sook Smith outdid herself, raising over $9,000 for our services and sitting at number eight in the overall top ten individual fundraiser ladder for the event.

She joined Mission Australia staff, supporters and members of Team MA, made up of clients of our homeless services, at a post-race barbecue in North Bondi.

All those weeks of training with the Sydney Roosters paid off for Team MA, with all members crossing the finishing line. Among them was Wayne Richards, who has taken part in every City2Surf since 1974.

In the lead-up to the City2Surf, Wayne attended every training session with players Ethan Lowe, Cheyse Blair, Lama Tasi and Boyd Cordner.

Thanks to Wayne, his team mates, all our fundraisers and their supporters for playing your part in this fabulous community event. Your efforts have raised a much-needed $20,000 for Mission Australia’s support services.

Media Release: Local Mission Australia staff sleep out to help the homeless

More than thirty staff from Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions offices on the Gold Coast & the crew from Southport Rotaract Club offices will brave the winter cold tonight, in an effort to raise money for the not-for-profit’s homeless services.

The driving force behind the local event – Crystal Jousovec from Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions office in Palm Beach – said she decided to organise a Winter Sleepout because she wanted to help people less fortunate than herself.

“In my job I meet a lot of people who are desperately looking for work as they are at risk of losing their home, or worse, are already homeless,” Crystal said.

“In many cases, it’s not just individuals who are homeless, but families with young children without a stable home.

“Many are couch-surfing at friend’s places or sleeping in their car, because they haven’t got a place of their own. In the toughest cases they are sleeping rough in our community.

“I have experienced homelessness personally myself in a brief moment over a year ago.

“I have a young daughter and I understand the despair of not having anywhere to live. Luckily I had the support of my friends and work mates to help bring me through homelessness and I now have my own unit which I pay rent for.

“I often think of myself as very lucky to have stable full time employment and the ability to pay my rent, have food on the table and a safe place to shower and sleep.

“Sometimes we take these things for granted – and that is why I wanted to organise a Winter Sleepout to build awareness and raise important funding for Mission Australia’s homeless services.”

The Winter Sleepout is being held at Southport Rotaract Youth Club, Lawson Street Southport, tonight from 7pm, with the group aiming to raise $1000 or more.

Raffles will be held on the night, with Jupiters Casino donating one night’s accommodation in a superior room for two adults, including buffet breakfast; and local beauty company True Beauty Revealed donating vouchers for facials and massages at their salon.

Mission Australia’s Winter Sleepout, which was first held in 1988 in Sydney’s Martin Place, is about raising both awareness and funds for Mission Australia’s more than 100 services for homeless people nationally.

Last year, Mission Australia assisted close to 30,000 people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness.

This year’s Winter Sleepout fundraising target is $250,000. With your participation, we can reach this target and help transform the lives of more homeless Australians in 2011.

To find out more about Winter Sleepout or to register, visit: www.wintersleepout.com.au

For more information on tonight’s event at Southport contact (07) 5559 6200

Media Contact: Nicola Hazell (07) 3394 8114 or 0467 783 421

Above photo: The team from Employment Solutions Palm Beach in preparation for their sleepout

Media coverage - South Coast Register: Video links workers with employment

Mission Australia Employment Solutions at Nowra has achieved a first, placing a jobseeker through a video.

Mission Australia recently launched its visual resume program Meetseeker, and Shoalhaven Excavations operations manager Kris Peters was one of the first prospective employers to look at the program.

Mr Peters gave up his time to attended the new program's launch day on June 23 in which he got to meet some of Mission Australia's jobseekers, and also give his feedback on the program.

After regularly turning to Mission Australia for help finding new staff, Mr Peters used Meetseeker to hire Lino Nuualiitia.

"Despite Lino having no previous demolition experience I really liked his enthusiasm and the way he presented himself on Meetseeker, that's what really sold me in the end," Mr Peters said.

Mission Australia Shoalhaven business manager David Rawson said the response from the business community had been overwhelming, with several local businesses "really taking this new technology on board as the way of the future for recruiting new staff".

Above image:  MA sales representative at Nowra, Arnie Schunmann, is on hand as jobseeker Lino Nuuiltiia is welcomed to his first day of work by Kris Peters from Shoalhaven Excavations

Story originally published in the South Coast Register on Monday 8 August.

Jymbilung House Community Care named Champion Employer 2011

A small community aged care organisation in Beaudesert, Queensland, has taken out top gong at Australia’s leading employment awards in Brisbane last night.

Having been nominated by Mission Australia, Jymbilung House Community Care was named Champion Employer of the Year at the National Employment Services Association’s awards, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to providing positive employment opportunities for disadvantaged job seekers.

Mission Australia Employment Solutions Business Manager Robert Kennard said this was great recognition of the important partnership between Mission Australia and Jymbilung, which had led to the placement of more than 40 job seekers over the past 11 years.

“Jymbilung has been one of our most valued partners, and that is why we nominated them for this prestigious national award,” Mr Kennard said.

“Here at Mission Australia, we are delighted to see one of our best local employers being recognised on the national stage for their significant efforts to provide job opportunities for people struggling with unemployment.

“In area where the unemployment rate is higher than the national average, at 6.5 per cent, the efforts of Jymbilung to provide employment opportunities for local job seekers are particularly important. They are helping to make a real difference in the local community.

“In particular, Jymbilung has made a significant contribution to addressing Indigenous unemployment, with the majority of the placements we have achieved at this organisation having been for Indigenous job seekers.

“Jymbilung have always shown remarkable perseverance and patience in working with our job seekers to overcome barriers to employment, and provide training opportunities that will allow employees to gain accredited qualifications in Aged Care, First Aid and Occupational Health and Safety.

“This is a huge coup for a local organisation and for our staff at Mission Australia who have worked so closely with Jymbilung for over a decade.

“Aged care is a challenging industry, but Jymbilung provides its staff with excellent support, ongoing training and great working conditions. That’s why we are always so pleased when we are able to link a job seeker with a position in this organisation.”

Established in 1994, Jymbilung House is a home and community care initiative, set up to assist frail aged, younger people with disabilities and their carers to stay in their own homes longer and enjoy a better quality of life.

Proudly sponsored by Mununjali Housing, Jymbilung originally was funded for the Indigenous population of Beaudesert Shire, however the program services now both Indigenous and mainstream clients.

The winners were announced at the NESA’s gala awards dinner at The Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane last night.

Pictured (from left): Mission Australia Service Manager Anne Humphreys; Mission Australia Employment Solutions Queensland General Manager Phil Shultz; Jymbilung Centre Manager Matthew Moore; Jymbilung Operations Manager Paula Jakavicius, and Employment Solutions Beaudesert Sales Representative Shelly Currie.

North and South Queensland staff connect with homeless

Mission Australia staff on the Gold Coast and Cairns have marked National Homeless Persons’ week at two community events that offered people in need support, advice and supplies.

Staff from our Employment Solutions services on the Gold Coast dug deep for Wednesday’s Homeless Connect event at Broadbeach, donating a ute-load of supplies – including clothing, towels, toiletries, blankets and even kids' toys - that were handed out to people in need.

Coordinated by the Gold Coast Homelessness Network and the Gold Coast Youth Service, the event brought together all the major services and agencies involved in providing assistance to people living rough on the Gold Coast.

Now in its third year, the event was created in response the Gold Coast having one of the highest rates of homelessness in the state. According to 2006 Census figures, each night more than 2,200 people don't have a home to sleep in.

Crystal Jousovec (pictured right), one of our employment advisors at Palm Beach who organised the donation drive, also did a great interview with ABC 91.7FM ABC as part of a live broadcast.

Our staff also provided advice about employment and other services offered by Mission Australia.

Mission Australia Employment Solutions State General Manager Phil Schultz thanked staff for making “such a valuable personal contribution”, in addition to the work they do each day to help people looking for employment.

Connecting in Cairns
Today, the team from Mission Australia’s Going Places homeless support service in Cairns joined other local agencies in providing advice and support to locals at Homeless Connect at Munro Martin Park.

Local Service Manager Natalie Musumeci said hundreds of items of clothing and blankets had been donated by community members, local businesses and Mission Australia staff themselves for the event, which also featured a barbecue and entertainment.

“It’s great to see the community getting behind an event like this and we’re very grateful to all the businesses and individuals that have made a contribution,” said Ms Musumeci.

“By helping people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing their tenancy, not only can we assist the individuals to improve their circumstances, but the whole community also benefits, she added. “These are complex issues and no two cases are the same, so by working together with other community organisations and government services to provide a holistic approach to reducing homelessness we can all make a difference.”

The program, funded by the Queensland Government, aims to provide local people who are living rough with the support they need to find secure accommodation and to make the positive changes in their lives that will allow them to stay off the streets.

When this service started, staff were mostly working with single people looking for accommodation. But in the past three months, they have seen an increase in the number of families with children seeking help from our service.

Since our Going Places program started in Cairns last November, Mission Australia has already assisted 113 people who were experiencing homelessness, including 34 families.

MA’s Ulladulla team sponsor Business of the Year Awards

The team at MA Employment Solutions in Ulladulla is looking forward to this year’s Rotary Club of Milton Business of the Year Awards.

The Ulladulla site has been a very proud Gold sponsor of the business awards for the past five years, working closely with Rotary Club members to help ensure the success of the night.

“Mission Australia views the business awards as a way of giving back to the community and staff looked forward to the event each and every year,” said John Thompson, Ulladulla Job Seeker Solutions Manager.

Employment Solutions also give job seekers the opportunity to demonstrate their skills on the night by kindly donating their time to assist where needed whether behind the scenes or providing hospitality skills.

Entries are currently being received by the Rotary Club for a range of awards including Small Business of the Year, Employee of the Year and specific categories to suit the Milton/Ulladulla area. Entries will close at 5pm on Monday 8 August.

The event will be held on 23 August where Dave Rawson, Business Manager and John Thompson will be busy presenting awards to the lucky business winners.

“This is the biggest gathering of local employers in the Milton/Ulladulla area and presents a wonderful marketing opportunity for Mission Australia Employment Solutions to showcase their business,” said Dave Rawson.

For more information regarding this event contact John Thompson, Ulladulla Job Seeker Solutions Manager.

Photo courtesy of The Milton Ulladulla Times.

Pictured are the Ulladulla Employment Solutions Team and David Rawson Acting Business Manager Shoalhaven.

Brighter days ahead for Shane and his kids

We wanted to share this story about a Caloundra dad who is turning his life around with the help of Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions.

Our Caloundra Employment Solutions team is helping the single father of three to avoid possible eviction and move into stable employment.

Shane was facing homelessness when he approached Mission Australia Employment Solutions 18 months ago. After being unemployed for some time, he was struggling to support his children and suffered from depression, anxiety and stress.

With the help of local ES Assessor Julie Conlan, Shane is transforming his life:

"When I came to Employment Solutions I was able to do little more than pay rent, school fees and electricity bills,” Shane told The Caloundra Weekly. “I was near breaking point.

"Julie helped me identify what I wanted to achieve in terms of employment, and then helped me acquire my HR (Heavy Rigid) truck license, with all lessons and costs paid by Mission Australia."

Mission Australia has also assisted Shane to gain his excavator ticket, and Julie is confident he is close to securing steady employment.

“There are now opportunities out there for him. He is still moving forward and staying positive, which is so important,” said Julie.

“I love being able to work with clients like Shane, to see them overcome barriers, build confidence and them transform their lives.”

With over 30 years’ experience, Mission Australia Employment Solutions helps job seekers find quality jobs that match their capabilities and long-term goals, through employment assistance and training.

Giving back to great employers
The gift of employment is perhaps the greatest gift that an employer can give. Employment makes a tremendous difference to a person’s life, and helps them to engage with the community in which they live.

To celebrate businesses that give unemployed people a “fair go” Mission Australia Employment Solutions’ is hosting its inaugural 2011 Employer Awards.

These awards strive to recognise employers who are willing to overlook and help overcome the challenges which job seekers face, and help make a real difference in their lives.

Employers can be nominated by completing a nomination form and returning it to your local Mission Australia Employment Solutions site. To learn more and apply, click here

New awards recognise excellent employers

Mission Australia Employment Solutions’ Employer Awards are a celebration of the support given by Australian employers in giving people a ‘fair go’.

Employment makes a tremendous difference to a person’s life, and helps them to engage with the community in which they live.

Some people face challenges, both large and small, on their journey towards gaining sustainable work. The Employer Awards strive to recognise employers who are willing to overlook and help overcome the challenges that job seekers face, and help make a real difference in their lives.

By recognising the support that local employers give in hiring unemployed job seekers, Mission Australia Employment Solutions hopes to reduce negative perceptions of unemployed people that may exist within local communities.

Award recipients will benefit from the status of being recognised as an employer that transforms the lives of local unemployed people and gives back to the local community.

Employers can be nominated by completing a printed nomination form (available at your local Mission Australia Employment Solutions site) or by completing our online form.

Nominations opened 1 July 2011, with entries closing on 30 September 2011.

Who can enter?

The Employer Awards are open to all local employers of participating Mission Australia Employment Solutions sites who have used our services within the past 12 months.

Employers will be judged based on their contribution to helping unemployed people find work.

Local presentations of 2011 awards will take place in October 2011. Local winners will qualify for entry into the national awards and will be invited to a national awards dinner that will be held in November 2011.

More information

If you’d like to find out more about the Mission Australia Employment Solutions Employer Awards, please visit the 2011 Mission Australia Employment Solutions Employer Awards page.

St George duo go the extra mile for job seekers

Petra Stride and Michael Wilson from our Employment Solutions site in St George, Queensland, have been awarded Mission Australia’s first annual Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Award for their commitment to local job seekers.

The Mission Australia Reconciliation Action Plan was developed to improve employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Mission Australia Employment Solutions is a key driver of the plan, helping job seekers source quality jobs that match their capabilities and long-term goals through employment assistance and training.

Petra and Michael have endured three floods in 12 months – but always put their clients above themselves.

Mission Australia Employment Solutions St George Office Business Manager Harry Liaubon said the award was well-deserved.

“We’re extremely proud of Petra and Michael,” he said. “They constantly go above and beyond to give their clients the best quality of service and achieve the best outcomes.”

“They share a caseload of over 100 clients – and two-thirds are of Aboriginal heritage. The trust and relationships that Petra and Michael have built with the local people are an essential part of providing employment opportunities in the community.

“Thanks to Petra and Michael, Mission Australia Employment Solutions is the employer service provider of choice for Aboriginal people in the community,” he added.

This is not the first time the pair has been recognised. Last year, the Mission Australia Employment Solutions St George office was awarded the St George NAIDOC Business of the Year Award by the local Aboriginal community.

To find out how the organisation can help you to find a job or hire employees, visit employmentsolutions.com.au

Mission Australia opens new Dareton office

Fifty representatives from local government, business and juvenile justice and health services yesterday joined Mission Australia Community Services staff in celebrating the opening of our new office in Dareton, far western New South Wales.

The new Neilpo Street office will serve as a base for our Brighter Futures and Youth Connections programs, which in recent years have operated in the area on an outreach basis from Broken Hill.

Chelsea Hodge, Acting Services Manager Far Western Community Services, said the new Mission Australia office would provide much-needed support to local young people and families and strengthen community capacity and engagement in the region.

“Local people in the Wentworth Shire deserve full-time support,” she said. “We are lucky to have one of our current Support Workers, Amanda Ferguson, moving from Broken Hill to the Dareton area. Mandy has previously worked in the Broken Hill Brighter Futures team, so she will be an asset to the community.”

The Brighter Futures (Early Intervention) Program is a voluntary targeted program designed for families encountering problems that impact on their ability to care for their children. The program provides families with the necessary support and services to help prevent an escalation of the problems.

Amanda will be joined by a full-time Youth Connections Support Worker in August. Youth Connections supports young people aged from 12 to 19 who are at risk of disengaging, or have who have disengaged, from education, and helped them find alternative means to learn and overcome barriers.

Shoalhaven job seekers star in video resumes

More than100 job seekers from Mission Australia’s Nowra and Ulladulla Employment Solutions offices have been given the opportunity to promote themselves to businesses using online video resumes.

This DEEWR-approved program is being piloted by Mission Australia in Nowra, NSW, with the potential to be picked up by all Job Service Australia providers.

The digital resumes – provided by Meetseeker – go way beyond the traditional print resume by including a video profile of the job seeker. The result is a resume that conveys the individual’s personality and gives potential employers the flexibility to view and review applicants at their own convenience.

Over the course of three days last week, staff at Mission Australia Employment Solutions Nowra trained job seekers on video presentation and helped them with their hair and make-up before supporting them through the recording process. In addition to the 100 job seekers from Nowra, 10 Ulladulla residents travelled to the office to create personal video profiles.

Once the profiles were loaded onto Meetseeker by our employment advisors, our sales support staff sent the new links to potential employers. Employment Solutions has already received positive feedback from local business, with two job seekers already gaining interviews based on their video resumes.

“This businessperson absolutely loved the concept of Meetseekers because they could hear how the candidate spoke and see how they presented straight away,” said Sharon Webster, JobSeeker Solutions Manager.

Gavin Carboni of Meetseekers also had praise for the way our Employment Solutions staff supported job seekers: “They team did an amazing job empowering the job seekers to believe in themselves enough to record the videos,” Mr Carboni said. “It was overwhelmingly fantastic to work with them and a real pleasure to see the job seekers enjoy themselves.”

Last Thursday’s program launch attracted local media, including WIN TV, who recorded this news item at Youtube.

The South Coast register also reported on the new initiative.

New website for MA Employment Solutions

Mission Australia Employment Solutions recently launched a new website featuring information on our employment programs and site locations, as well as downloadable brochures, fact sheets and tips for job seekers.

Mission Australia is one of Australia's largest providers of Job Services Australia, Australian Apprenticeships and the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme. We have been providing employment services for some 33 years, and operates from close to 150 locations across Australia, with representation in every state and territory.

The new website also includes online forms to allow employer customers to lodge job vacancies, and job seekers to apply for the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme or National Green Jobs Corps programs.

"We've rebuilt the new site from the ground up to help improve the overall visitor experience," said Anthony Rumble, National Marketing and Communication Manager for Employment Solutions.

"Visitors will now find easier access to site locations and contact details, and can also download copies of the current brochure and fact sheet materials.

"Over the next few months, we'll continue to roll out new resources and features, such as newsletter subscriptions, access to downloadable resume and cover letter templates, and articles and advice covering a range of employment topics."

To see the new website, visit www.employmentsolutions.com.au. While you're there, please take the time to let us know what you think.

Business with a heart of glass

Six months ago, glassmaker Matthew Anderson sold the odd bit of his work on Ebay to make a bit of extra money.

Now he’s running his own business, with the support of a new Mission Australia employment scheme.

The city resident supplies local clients with laboratory glassware he makes or imports from India.

“Ever since I was young I always loved scientific stuff and chemistry,” Mr Anderson told The City Messenger.

“I’ve had good jobs but I have never lasted more than a few months; I don’t know why. This is the first time work is something I truly love.”

Under the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme, participants complete a training program and then formulate their own business plan which is approved by industry representatives.

Mission Australia provides support for the first year of the business, including a mentor to monitor progress.

The program is funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Mr Anderson joined the program in January and his business - www.sciencesupply.com.au - has already attracted 10 clients.

He said he would “still be completely broke and hopeless” were it not for the program.

“All of a sudden I have money in the bank.”

Mr Anderson, who cares for his schizophrenic brother David, is now hoping to save enough money to buy a block of land in the Adelaide Hills and build a house. For more information on the program, contact 1300 006 347.

Story by Jessica Whiting, courtesy of The City Messenger.

Further reading

• For more information on the NEIS program and information on how to start your own business, visit our new Employment Solutions website.
• Read more NEIS success stories here.

Media Release: Mission Australia launches environmental training program in Ballarat

Mission Australia will officially launch a new environmental training program for young job seekers in the Ballarat area on Friday 18 March 2011 (event details below).

The National Green Jobs Corps (NGJC) project – a 26-week environmental training program offered in partnership with the Australian Government and Conservation Volunteers Australia – offers young people, aged 17 to 24 years, a combination of work experience, skill development and accredited training to equip them with the skills necessary for future employment in green and climate change industries.

During the project, the group of young people from the Ballarat area will have the chance to work on the restoration of native habitat environment, construction and installation of nesting boxes to improve biodiversity values, fencing or critical ecological and historic sites, assisting in fuel reduction prior to the summer fire season, and track maintenance and erosion control at Sovereign Hill.

Participants will work towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management.

Mission Australia’s Victoria Regional Manager, Anthony Moore, said the young people were looking forward to making a difference to the local environment and picking up skills for the future.

“We’re excited to announce this project that will provide more opportunities for young people in Ballarat to get real work experience in on-the-ground projects and continue building on the success of earlier projects this year.

“As part of today’s launch we’ll also officially commend our recent graduates who successfully undertook the program last year,” Mr Moore said.

Date: Friday 18 March 2011
Time: 11:00am to 12:00pm
Where: Sovereign Hill Lodge, Magpie St, Ballarat, Victoria

Interview and photo opportunities:

• Anthony Moore, Victoria Regional Manager, Mission Australia
• Tracee Vassallo, NGJC Business Manager, Mission Australia
• National Green Jobs Corps participants

Media contact: Emily Lehmann, Fenton Communications on (03) 9600 0006 / 0421 852 501 or emilyl@fenton.com.au

Media coverage - Scone Advocate: New program for indigenous seekers

A new employment program involving the health and child care industries has recently been launched in Scone, Muswellbrook and Singleton.

The program offers indigenous residents looking for work, a career in the fields of health and childcare and provides ongoing support to the employee in their position.

Launched by Mission Australia Employment Solutions, the Indigenous Employment Program is a joint initiative with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

About 40 Indigenous community members living in the Upper Hunter will be assisted in seeking positions in nursing, aged and disability care, residential support, administration and child care positions, as well as receiving pre-vocational training to improve their job readiness.

Mission Australia Employment Solutions regional manager Jodie Gilliland said with so many job opportunities currently available in these fields and demand expected to increase over the next five years this program provides a great opportunity for local businesses to find the right job-ready employees.

After completing their pre-vocational training, including obtaining their First Aid certificate and a Statement in Attainment in Community Health, participants will move on to receive further qualifications through completing traineeships.

"We're keen to hear from local employers who are interested in partnering with us and benefiting from finding job-ready employees who are raring to go."

Story courtesy of The Scone Advocate

Visit Mission Australia's Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island resources page for our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the latest indigenous news, current affairs and policy updates.

Hard work gets results for Eden Employment Solutions team

Lacey was a mum at 16 and is now bringing up three children, aged 10 to 14, on her own.

It's a familiar story and for the people who find themselves in situations such as this, it can be soul-destroying with feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

But thanks to Mission Australia Employment Solutions Site Manager Regi Moulds and Employment Advisor Crystal Hall, Lacey's breaking out of the welfare rut and looking forward to employment as a social worker. It's a huge step, especially for someone who's had to be a full-time mum and never been employed in the workplace.

"I was in my final year at uni when I approached Mission Australia and they've been helping
me get ready to go into a job," the 31-year-old told The Eden Imlay Magnet in southern NSW.

"They helped put together my resume and helped with the cover letter and all the eligibility criteria, posting things out, internet access so I can keep studying, they covered costs such as uni books it's been wonderful."

While the benefits of having a job are obvious, there is something so much more that Lacey is
getting from this important step in her life.

"I was born and bred in Eden and I was 16 when I had my first child," she said. "I always felt
that the community looked at me as though I wasn't contributing and not having a go.

"Doing this uni degree and now getting ready for job here has been so important for my self-esteem. There are still moments when I get anxious," she added, "especially when I go for job interviews, because I've never done it before. So I ring Regi and she'll ask the questions I'll likely get in the interview and pump up and that really helps."

Mission Australia's Employment Solutions Eden office recently won its third Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) five-star rating (the highest given out) in a row. These ratings recognise the speed at which a person finds a job, the number of people placed in jobs and whether they maintained their new positions long-term.

Regi says it's getting tougher with businesses closing their doors, tourism down, major industry threatened and sheer bad luck such as the Pelagic Fish Processors plant fire. However, Regi and Chrystal have been working tirelessly to find work for many unemployed people of all ages and backgrounds in Eden.

"Some people have never had a career, or there are people with drug and alcohol dependency, mental and physical barriers," Regi said, but they've still managed to place around 80 people in the six months to December.

"But it's not just finding them work, she said. “It's a journey to sustainable employment it might be working out what study is needed to achieve employment, or something simple like helping with resumes and paperwork even how to dress for an interview."

Chrystal added that working with potential employees is also an important part of their work, which takes a holistic approach to employment.

"We're not trying to just put someone in a job," she said. "We like to make sure that it's the right person for the right job so both the employer and employee are happy. Then we keep in touch with them afterwards to make sure that it is a happy employment situation."

For people looking for workers, Mission Australia can help with wages assistance, training and even providing a place to conduct interviews.

In 2009-10, Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions assisted 154,676 job seekers across the nation. If you’re looking for work, or staff, find out more at http://www.missionaustralia.com.au/pathways-sustainable-employment-services

Above photo: Regi Moulds and Crystal Hall flank client Lacey.

Story by Justin Law and courtesy of the Eden Imlay Magnet

Media Release: Strong report card for Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions

Mission Australia Employment Solutions has received a strong report card for its work providing employment services to job seekers across the country.

Fourteen employment offices in Victoria, NSW and Queensland have been awarded the maximum ‘5 Star’ rating for their efforts in helping local job seekers find work.

The sites are: Sale, Bairnsdale, Lake Tyers, Mallacoota, Omeo and Orbost (Victoria); Castle Hill, Bega, Eden, Muswellbrook, Scone, Toronto and Merimbula (NSW); and Caboolture (Queensland).

The ratings, awarded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), recognise both efficiency (the speed at which a person is found a job) and effectiveness (the number of people found jobs for and whether they maintain their new positions long-term).

Employment services within an area that receive a 5 Star rating are considered to be performing at 40 per cent or more above the average.

Other positives from the latest round of ratings include: 

• 26 Mission Australia Employment Solutions sites were rated at 4 Stars.
• 95% of Mission Australia Employment Solutions sites achieved 3 Stars or more.

Mission Australia’s Executive Leader of Employment Solutions, Dr Prins Ralston, said the results were a welcome recognition of his team’s commitment in finding work for unemployed people throughout the country.

“We’re just over the moon at what our sites are achieving – particularly those that have picked up five stars, it really means a lot to us all here,” said Dr Ralston.

“Our team has worked so hard over the past 12 months helping job seekers find the right role or assisting local employers fill their vacancies.

“Normally, all the recognition we need is knowing we’ve done our job well – getting someone into work – but receiving this level of support really puts the icing on the cake,” said Dr Ralston.

Media contact: Paul Andrews 0409 665 495

Strong online start with DoinBiz

Mission Australia is helping entrepreneurs to get their businesses off the ground by offering free online support to NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) participants.

Every NEIS client who successfully completes their training and starts a business is eligible to be featured on our DoinBiz site - www.doinbiz.com.au - with no fee for online design and uploading during the first year of trading.

Created two years ago, DoinBiz enables Mission Australia NEIS businesses to market their products and services. The website gives small businesspeople starting out a helping hand and ongoing promotional support while educating them about the value of quality online marketing.

Small businesses on the DoinBizwebsite are presented in ‘industry’ categories – from ‘air conditioning to tourism’ - to help potential customers find services.

DoinBiz has recently been expanded to include NEIS participants in Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania and it is expected that the site will host close to 200 businesses by the end of June 2011.

“We know that if in the early days we assist clients responsibly, and they benefit from their appearance on DoinBiz, that they will naturally remain a long-term client and expand their business presence, recognising it has traceable, measurable benefits for their business,” said Warren Silverston, Mission Australia’s Business Manager NEIS South Australia.

“It exposes our clients to a much larger market, both in Australia and overseas, than would be expected through more traditional forms of marketing such as newspapers. Most importantly, it gives our clients a higher potential success rate in achieving independence from income support and creating new jobs for other unemployed people.”

The website has been constructed to ensure anyone using a search engine such as Google who is looking for a specific product or service will be quickly and directly linked to a Mission Australia NEIS participant’s web page.

“This ‘economies of scale’ web-based marketing model is designed to give even the most computer-illiterate NEIS participant access to this technology,” said Mr Silverston. “The more businesses on the site the merrier and the greater pull for the search engines.”

Mr Silverston added that the DoinBiz promotional website was unique to Mission Australia as a NEIS provider. To find out more visit www.doinbiz.com.au.

NEIS is funded by the Australian Government's Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and is designed to help unemployed job seekers to set up and run their own business. NEIS provides accredited training in small business, business advice and mentoring as well as 52 weeks’ worth of income support.

The art of small business on show in Adelaide

South Australian graduates of Mission Australia’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) are displaying their talents at a special end-of-year show - Simply ‘Delaide.

Launched on Thursday night by Kate Ellis, Federal Minister for Employment Participation, the exhibition features jewellery, painting, illustration, wall art, Indigenous art, fashion design, graphic design and photography created by local NEIS artisans.

Fittingly, the exhibition venue - Paper String Plastic - is owned and operated by a former NEIS participant.

Funded by the Australian Government, the NEIS program helps job seekers to successfully set up their own small businesses. Participants are trained in business management and helped to develop a business plan. They also receive a year of NEIS payments and are assigned a mentor for the first 12 months in business. Around 900 people participate in NEIS through Mission Australia every year in every state and territory.

Mission Australia’s South Australian NEIS Manager, Warren Silverston, said that Simply ‘Delaide aims to display the breadth of small businesses established by NEIS graduates and to celebrate their success.

“Most people, when they think of successful small businesses, they don’t automatically think of someone in the creative arts – jewellery designers, photographers, fashion designers, musicians, animators. But this showcase is about changing those perceptions,” Mr Silverston said.

“There’s no reason people with a creative gift can’t learn the attributes of managing a successful small business and turn their passion into a livelihood.

“All the exhibitors at this showcase are uniquely talented. Mission Australia’s role – and the role of NEIS – was to provide the support, guidance and expertise to assist them to make a go of it and channel their talent in a targeted and professional way.

“The creative arts sector adds millions of dollars to the Australian economy every year and employs thousands of people. We’re confident our NEIS graduates will be active participants in that contribution and go on to have very successful careers.”

Simply ‘Delaide’ is on show at Paper String Plastic, 99A Hindley Street, Adelaide, until 28 December.

Above photo from left: Prins Ralston, Mission Australia Executive Leader - Employment Solutions; with Kate Ellis, the Minister for Employment Participation; Rebecca Murdoch, Job Services Australia Contract Manager, and gallery co-owner Magdalena Tomaszewski.

Media Release: Mission Australia launches environmental training program in Bendigo

Mission Australia will officially launch a new environmental training program for young job seekers in the Bendigo area this Thursday, 11 November 2010 (event details below).

The National Green Jobs Corps (NGJC) project – a 26-week environmental training program offered in partnership with the Australian Government and Conservation Volunteers in Bendigo – offers young people, aged 17 to 24 years, a combination of work experience, skill development and accredited training to equip them with the skills necessary for future employment in green and climate change industries.

During the project, the group of 18 young people from the Bendigo area will have the chance to work on the restoration of native habitat environment, construction and installation of nesting boxes to improve biodiversity values, fencing or critical ecological and historic sites, assisting in fuel reduction prior to the summer fire season, and track maintenance and erosion control.

These projects involve working with conservation and community groups, Parks Victoria and the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment. Participants will also work towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management.

Mission Australia’s Victoria Regional Manager, Anthony Moore, said the young people were looking forward to making a difference to the local environment and picking up skills for the future.

“We’re excited to announce this project that will provide more opportunities for young people in Bendigo to get real work experience in on-the-ground projects and continue building on the success of earlier projects this year.

“As part of today’s launch we’ll also officially commend our recent graduates who successfully undertook the program at the beginning of 2010,” Mr Moore said.

Date:  Thursday, 11^th November 2010
Time: 11.30am
Where: Lake Weeroona BBQ Area, cnr Midland Highway Bendigo

Interview and photo opportunities:

• Anthony Moore, Victoria Regional Manager, Mission Australia
• Tracee Vassallo, NGJC Acting Manager, Mission Australia
• Iain Wilson, Team Officer
• National Green Jobs Corps participants  

Media inquiries:  Paul Andrews on (02) 9219 2080 / 0409 665 495