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.

Media release: Good business can be a laughing matter

Any comedian will tell you comedy can be hard work. Adelaide’s Ben Darsow found a novel way to make it a bit easier.

The up-and-coming stand-up comedian from Plympton honed both his business and his performance skills with support from Mission Australia’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS)* and started 2011 with a diary booked solid through to June.

“The program made it clear to me that developing as a performer and managing the business side of being a performer were very different tasks and reinforced the importance of focussing attention on both of them,” he said.

“It was a real transition phase. I moved from performing as a hobby for pocket money to being able to sustain a new mortgage and a suitable lifestyle solely off being a professional stand-up comedian.

“The mentoring and interaction with other fresh business owners really helped me with my marketing, admin and decision making about my professional direction and I feel worlds ahead of where I was 12 months ago.”

Immediately after completing the program Ben was able to quit his casual job and start a new work schedule that will include performances at this year’s Adelaide Fringe (his show, ‘No Such Thing as Normal,’ will be performed at Sugar nightclub on Rundle Streeet, Adelaide).

“Given the idea of the program is to help people progress past needing other sources of income that was uncannily fitting,” he said.

NEIS is funded by the Australian Government to help job seekers successfully set up their own small businesses. Participants receive payments for a year, are assigned a mentor and assisted to develop management skills and a business plan.

“It is one of the most successful labour market programs in Australia because it teaches people to avoid the pitfalls that cause so many new small businesses to fail in the first year,” said Mission Australia’s Warren Silverston.

“Most people don’t think of someone in the creative or performing arts when they think of successful small businesses but the arts add millions of dollars to the Australian economy every year and employ thousands of people.

“There’s no reason people with a creative gift like Ben’s can’t learn to turn their passion into a livelihood. NEIS’s role 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.”

Reviews suggest Ben has the comedy skills to match his new business prowess. He’s been called “a genuinely funny bugger” (The Advertiser) and his material has been labelled as “hilarious and self deprecating; comedy gold” (Melbourne International Comedy Festival).

For more information, please contact Renae Sullivan at Rann Communication on (08) 8211 7771 or visit Ben’s website at www.bendarsow.com; or ring Ben on 0417 875 043.

*Mission Australia’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) is funded by the Australian Government to help job seekers set up their own successful small businesses. Around 900 people participate in NEIS through Mission Australia every year in every state and territory

Lee’s new enterprise

Two years ago, just walking to the letterbox was a huge challenge for Lee. She had spent five years suffering from brain lesions that caused MS-like symptoms such as blurred vision and fatigue.

“Some days I couldn’t walk, other days I couldn’t talk,” she said. “But I didn’t give up.”

When her illness went into remission in April 2009 it heralded a fresh start for the single mother of three.

“I turned 40 and decided to take a risk and do something with my life,” she said.

In August 2009 Lee started an eight-week New Enterprise Initiative Scheme (NEIS) Program through Mission Australia Employment Solutions. NEIS helps participants gain TAFE-level small business qualifications free of charge while receiving a government allowance.

After conducting market research, Lee identified a need for an eatery in Adelaide’s Modbury Heights that sold affordable, healthy food. With the help of one of our NEIS business mentors, Megan, she created a business plan and by December had opened the doors of Spud-a-licious.

Lee now employs her eldest daughter and is doing a great trade.

“NEIS gave me an overview of what I had to do,” Lee said. “It’s given me a new lease on life.”

Lee was recently nominated for the ‘NEIS Change’ award in the 2010 National NEIS Association Awards. This award recognises the achievements of an individual who has experienced the biggest turnaround in their life thanks to the NEIS program.

While Lee did not win this award, Mission Australia’s South Australian NEIS Manager, Warren Silverston, said the small business owner was certainly worthy of recognition.

“Lee has worked so hard to get her small business up and running. She’s faced some enormous obstacles in her life and to see her achieve success in her enterprise is terrific,” he said.

In 2009-10, 945 people took part in our NEIS programs. Of these, 700 started their own business.

Mission Australia client looks outside-the-square to build a path to success

After relocating to Adelaide from Melbourne three years ago, Madee River found that, after a few months of unemployment, he would need to think outside-the-square if he was going to be able to support himself.

He came across Mission Australia's New Enterprise Incentive Scheme and soon had the small business training, mentoring and relevant qualifications to help him develop a business plan that set him on the path to success.

The New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) is a self-employment program funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). NEIS has helped over 100,000 unemployed people since the early 1990s by helping them develop the skills and knowledge needed to start and manage their own business.

At the recent National NEIS Association Awards for Performance, Mr River achieved national recognition in the 'best growth business' category for his company Designer Muzik.

Mr River and his team now help businesses such as Novotel hotel group, Cibo and BMW build their branding through tailored music, advertising and promotional events

"My background is in the music industry and I certainly spent many months researching and planning my business proposition," said Mr River to the Adelaide Advertiser.

"But I am sure I would not be here now without Mission Australia NEIS support," said Mr River.

DesignerMuzik is set for further success, with plans for the business to expand into Sydney and international markets.

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To read more about NEIS, or apply see the links below...

• About the program
• Application information  

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