Bulletin

BTG Bulletin Issue #5

BTG

Bulletin

BTG Bulletin

June/July 2013

Issue Date

THE JOINT PHOTOGRAPHY COLLABORATION IS NOW SHOWING AT THE GARY HOLLAND CC. IN THIS ISSUE

The creative expressions of the Footprints photography project were launched on June 27 at a free exhibition at the Gary Holland Community Centre.

Footprints is a joint initiative between Bridging the Gap and the City of Rockingham aimed at creating intergenerational connections with seniors and youth centred in and around the local area.

Bridging the Gap’s Rob Bray said the program, which took place across a six week period, engages youth aged between 14 and 24 and seniors aged 55 and over in a ‘unsafe’ to ‘safe’ project.

“The groups were educated by a local photographer before being paired up to visit a variety of locations they had chosen around the community,” he said.

According to Mr. Bray, participants then took photographs of areas that they believed could be made safer.

“Afterwards they discussed the images and with photo editing, designed a new outlook that would improve the safety of the location.”

Footprints participant, Keisha Parker (18), said the experience increased her understanding of and respect for senior citizens in the local community.

“We all worked really well together,” she said.

“It was interesting to see that we shared similar opinions on unsafe areas and how we could improve them.”

Rockingham Mayor, Barry Sammels, added that the program, which has been loosely based on the “Our Space, Safe Place” project by the Injury Control Council of WA (ICCWA), is a fine example of an integrated community project.

“Not only has this project showcased great outcomes with intergenerational activity, it has also highlighted a fantastic partnership between the City of Rockingham and Bridging the Gap,” he said.

“We hope that this experience has brought you [the participants] a greater understanding of the areas of Rockingham, and that you have developed some positive relationships and changes in each other.”

FUELLS Bridging the Gap’s innovative FUELLS program has seen a record number of graduates transitioning into employment or further education after participants graduated earlier this month.

More on Page 2

A Jump for JSA For the first time in BTG’s 27 year history, the five star provider will offer Job Search Australia services in the Peel region after the Department for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations awarded the team with additional business.

More on Page 3

2013 Computer Courses Turn to page four for information on Bridging the Gap’s new innovative computer courses aimed at promoting social inclusion in the digital age.

More on Page 4

Connecting Through Prints

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Bridging the Gap’s Future Understanding of Education and Lifelong Learning Skills (FUELLS) program will wrap up for the semester this week, with almost 90 per cent of participants successfully streamed into employment or further education.

Youth Connections Case Worker Jason Holder said the alternative education program, which accepts referrals from schools, Corrective Services and the Department for Child Protection, is designed to assist young people who are no longer engaged in mainstream education.

“FUELLS runs for a semester at a time with the aim of building the skills and self confidence necessary to assist young people in reaching their full potential,” he said.

“The program is centred on what is important and relevant to the young people in the group, and can vary at any point in time depending upon the issues they are facing.”

Through Bridging the Gap’s Youth Connections, students are also individually case managed and coached through a wide variety of issues, as well as provided with the opportunity to gain a Certificate I in Work Preparation.

“Personalising these sessions has proved to be the cornerstone of our success, and Robert Bray [Team Leader] and myself are particularly proud to see these young people graduate with a will to succeed in life,” Mr. Holder said.

“Most of these young people have come from a socially isolated background and today they move forward from FUELLS, not only with some amazing academic achievements, but with some great mates too.”

Bridging the Gap’s Youth Connections program is funded by the Commonwealth of Australia through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The Australian Government, along with State and Territory Governments are working hard to help more young people gain a Year 12 (or equivalent) education.

Our Youth Connections program assists young people who have disengaged from, or are thinking of leaving school, to continue with their education. If you, or someone you know, would like further information on Bridging the Gap’s FUELLS or Youth Connections programs please contact Robert Bray on 08 9550 1111.

Fuelling Local Youth

To find out more about

Bridging the Gap’s youth

development programs

including FUELLS, call us on

08 9550 1111 or visit us online

at bridgingthegap.org.au

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BTG Bulletin Issue #5

BTG IN BRIEF

Disability Employment Services Bridging the Gap Job Futures recently expanded our range of job services to include Disability Employment Services (DES) delivered through our offices in Kwinana, Mandurah, Pinjarra, Rockingham, Spearwood, Waroona and Wembley. Disability Employment Services helps jobseekers with disability or health concerns to access individually tailored employment services, with strong links to training and development. If you would like more information on DES @ BTG, please contact Kelly on 08 9550 1111.

Expanding Expertise at BTG The team at Bridging the Gap would like to congratulate Karen Pavlovic from our Spearwood office for recently obtaining a Diploma in Counseling. Our own Youth and Community Manager, Linda Colley, also recently added a Certificate IV in Training and Assessing to her repertoire. Congratulations!

BTG on Seven News Perth Did you miss Bridging the Gap’s Academy for Community Employment on Seven News? Follow the link below!

http://youtu.be/l6C3oWlLbtU

For the first time in its 27 year history, Bridging the Gap Job Futures will launch Job Services Australia in the Peel region after the Department for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) awarded the five star provider additional business within the Central West Metro and Dale Employment Service Areas.

Bridging the Gap’s Job Search Australia Assistant Manager Kelly Tillet said the provider has a consistent track record of high performance, with the team achieving an overall five star rating from DEEWR in March.

“We have accomplished some excellent results within the local community, and really proved ourselves to be a market leader by consistently transitioning clients into sustainable employment,” she said.

“Our organisation has been an essential member of the Central West Metro Employment Services Area for almost three decades and this has meant we’ve developed relationships that are second

to none within the community and with local employers.”

With recent figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing unemployment up from 4.8 to 5.2 per cent in Western Australia, Ms Tillet said now is the time for jobseekers to ensure they’re being matched with a provider that meets their needs.

“I really encourage anyone looking for work to contact their local Bridging the Gap office and discuss options for registering with us,” she said.

“We’ve really poised ourselves to be a one stop shop for jobseekers and can offer them access to internal programs such as Youth Connections as well as tailored career development and selected training courses.”

If you would like more information on how you, or someone you know, can register with Bridging the Gap Job Futures please contact our Job Search Australia team on 08 9550 1111.

New Business for JSA

BTG

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In late July Bridging the Gap will launch three new training courses aimed at promoting social inclusion in the digital age.

With households becoming more and more dependent on internet use as an important part of the way they work, communicate, do business and are entertained, there has been no better time to update your computer skills!

Whether you’ve never used a computer before, or just need a refresher, be sure to register for BTG’s innovative short courses Microsoft 101, Facebook 101 and Internet Basics.

If you’d like further information on BTG’s technology based short courses, please call Rob Toon on 08 9550 1111.

Update your Computer Skills