The Try, Test and Learn Fund: My Maintenance Crew

Overview

The project aims to develop a social enterprise that helps young, unemployed, disadvantaged people who have an interest in hands-on vocational training transition into the workforce. This priority group faces a number of barriers gaining employment, including a lack of work experience, a lack of networks and a range of social and medical issues that prevent entry to mainstream employment. The Greater Geelong region has some of the highest incidences of social disadvantage across the country and is, therefore, the proposed trial location. This project will provide 125 young, unemployed, disadvantaged people with employment opportunities in sectors with current unmet demand in the Geelong area. Participants will have the opportunity to work in building, garden maintenance and events clean-up services. Throughout the program, participants will be provided: • education,• work experience,• personal development prospects, • mentoring,  • counselling, and • employment support to take up employment opportunities. Employment provided through the social enterprise could be ongoing, provide participants with the impetus to undertake formal education and/or gain experience that is transferable to other job opportunities.