Mission

Project Youth provides programs and services to disengaged and at risk young people aged 12-24 years old in the St. George, Bayside, and Sutherland Shire council areas. Project Youth was established in 1992, primarily as a housing support service for young people. Over our 25 year history we have grown from a youth homelessness service to complementing this with a variety of programs and activities in recognition that homeless young people require more than a roof over their head, and as a strategy to intervene early in young person’s life to increase young people’s protective factors to reduce the impact of any issues a young person may face. Project Youth is overseen by a voluntary Board of Management currently made up of 9 non-executive Directors. Project Youth Directors come from a variety of backgrounds including Senior Corporate Executives, a Financial Management Professional, a Senior Human Resources Management Processional, a Company Secretary and Community Service Professionals. Our strategic mission is ‘To create opportunities for young people to determine their own future’, with our operational mission/intended impact to ‘assist young people to transition into independent adulthood’. Project youth provides support, programs and activities for young people in the following ways: 1. Education and income pathways 2. Safe and supportive places to live 3. Managing situations with the law 4. Creating healthy bodies and mind 5. Connecting to the community 6. Support for situations making life difficult Specifically, Project Youth currently runs the following programs and activities: • Youth specialist Homelessness Services- accommodation and support for young people (12-24 years) • Inspire- Mentoring young people at risk (12-15 years) • Family Support Worker (12-15 years) • Adolescent and Family Counsellor • Early Intervention and Prevention Program- particular focus on young parents • Community Builders- focus on engaging young people living in social housing estates • Street Based Outreach- engaging with young people accessing public spaces at times when youth services are not open, e.g. weekends, evenings, public holidays • Peer Education Programs- Health related peer education • Four Drop-in Centers- for young people to have access to a safe space and support workers in a less formal environment • Labour Y- engaging disengaged and at risk young people who are unable or unwilling to continue further education into supported work opportunities with key corporate partners in an endeavour to transition them into full time employment. Labour Y is the subject of this request.

Category

Children and Youth

Additional Information

Labour Y, a program from Project Youth aims to connect disengaged and at risk young job seekers with potential employers through supported work engagement opportunities for a period of three to six months, with the endeavour to slowly transition the young person into full time employment with full preparedness. Labour Y also aims at drawing employer attention to marginalised young people and increase support and understanding at the workplace for young people facing challenges. The specific challenges faced by some young people could range from homelessness, issues relating to physical and mental health, dependence on alcohol or other substances, lack of essentials like access to transport, food, clothes and the like, and/or issues with the law. The challenges may result in specific behaviours at the workplace. Some examples are: 1. Repeated absence or lateness 2. Inability to form meaningful relationships with co-workers 3. Inability to focus completely at work 4. Being excessively and routinely tired 5. Inability to follow routine These behaviours are a result of several challenges that the young person may have faced growing up, or are facing now. Providing these young people with support helps them grow out of these behaviours and assimilate into the workforce. This support is most essential within the first few months of employment, and must be reflected at the workplace.