Gold Coast job seekers impress local employers

Fifteen Gold Coast job seekers recently served up a free two-course meal for local employers to showcase a specialised hospitality training course aimed to address skill shortages in the region.

The job seekers, who have undertaken the six-week Certificate II in Hospitality course, have gained skills in front-of-house and back-of-house hospitality operations.

Training was delivered for Mission Australia by Icon Training Academy who saw that the job seekers complete the course with the skills and practical experience necessary to obtain sustainable work in the hospitality industry.
 
In addition to being a course assessment, the two-course meal formed part of the Gold Coast Employer Luncheon event, allowing students to demonstrate their abilities to potential employers.

Over 35 local employers were in attendance, along with Mission Australia Executive Leaders Prins Ralston and Lincoln Hopper, Queensland General Manager Phil Schultz and representatives from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations - who all gave rave reviews on the student's handiwork.

Since then a number of the job seekers have been contacted by employers from the event and have gained full time, sustainable work - two of whom are now working at the prestigious 5-star Marriott Hotel.

Congrats to all the students and training staff for some brilliant results!

Spirit of adventure

Cally Faithful describes herself as fun-loving and adventurous. Not just for parachuting solo, but also for moving to Darwin to become Mission Australia’s Northern Territory Chaplain.

Cally is passionate about serving God. This passion has seen her pursue chaplaincy work in Melbourne hospitals before feeling the call to move north. When Cally saw the advertisement for the position of NT Chaplain her “heart did a flip” and she felt called to go.

The focus of Cally’s role as a Chaplain is to build positive relationships with Mission Australia staff and encourage the expression of our values. This means regular one-on-one conversations with our employees; visiting services across Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs; leading reflections at staff meetings and writing regular inspirational pieces for the Territory team.

Developing relationships with such a great team with flexibility and autonomy is a highlight of the job. Such flexibility allows Cally to be available to those who need her at the drop of a hat, enabling genuine relationships to be built.

During her year in the Northern Territory Cally has seen the need for reconciliation for Aboriginal people as well as changes in attitudes. Through our Reconciliation Action Plan, she believes Mission Australia can be advocates for change in the community and engage with the government, police and justice bodies.

Cally continues to be inspired by what the NT team is doing in the community and feels blessed to be able to support and encourage them in the work that they do.

Cally is one of Mission Australia’s 14 full-time Chaplains who work across the nation – five in New South Wales, three in Queensland, two in Western Australia and one each in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. They are joined by three volunteer Chaplains.  For more information please visit www.missionaustralia.com.au/about-mission-australia/chaplaincy

Mission Australia opens its doors to the Woodridge community

Mission Australia will officially launch its new Job Services Australia site in the southern Brisbane suburb of Woodridge today.

The opening, to be officiated by Brett Raguse MP, Federal Member for Forde, will celebrate Mission Australia’s commitment to the jobseekers and employers of Woodridge.

Mission Australia Employment Solutions launched the new Woodridge Job Services Australia (JSA) site on 1 July 2009 as a result of the Federal Government’s new JSA scheme, which focuses on a new approach to employment services - tailoring the services offered to the individual jobseeker.

Since opening its doors, Mission Australia’s JSA Woodridge site has helped dozens of local jobseekers find employment in the region.

Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions General Manager QLD, Phil Schultz, said today’s launch reinforced to the local community the commitment of the staff at the Woodridge JSA site to providing the support and guidance required by jobseekers and employers.

“We’re here to help Woodridge’s community by placing as many jobseekers as possible in the job best suited to them,” Mr Schultz said.

“We can offer jobseekers advice on their career options and our employment programs, as well as help them prepare their resumes, enhance their interview techniques and undertake the skill development or professional training they may need to help find and keep a job.

The Woodridge JSA site has so far helped place numerous jobseekers in suitable employment and currently has more than 450 jobseekers on their books.

“We’ve established strong relationships within the Woodridge community and we’re looking forward to building on these relationships to ensure we help as many willing jobseekers as possible.”

Mission Australia thanks the community for their generosity this winter

Australia's coldest, darkest season was made a little warmer this year for many of our homeless clients, thanks to some wonderful organisations and their very generous employees.

During the winter season of 2009, Mission Australia received collections of basics including blankets, grocery items and toiletries to distribute to some of our most marginalised members of society; for these items we owe a resounding and heart-felt THANK YOU!

Something as elementary as seasonal change can pose devastating affects on homeless people's health, especially those that endure rough-sleeping. With many Mission Australia clients surviving without any other support network, these recent donations have been highly sort-after and appreciated.

Below are the very generous organisations involved in this year's Winter Appeal - many thanks to all involved:

• AMP Foundation
• Bayer
• Davis Langdon
• Deutsche Bank
• Hamilton James & Bruce
• Macquarie Bank
• Optus

Without the generous support of the community, Mission Australia wouldnt be able to help so many homeless clients each winter. Last year alone Mission Australia assisted 32,211* homeless pepople to help them transform their lives.

Click here to learn more about Mission Australia Homelessness Services.

*Mission Australia Annual Report 2007-08