Angus Knight is proud to announce that its businesses Jobfind and Real Futures will help young people in regional areas to secure employment and training as part of the Australian Government’s Transition to Work program.
The Department of Education, Skills and Employment has awarded Jobfind Centres Australia and Real Futures a contract each to deliver the Australian Government’s Transition to Work (TtW) employment service in Cairns and Geraldton respectively.
Transition to Work is the Australian Government’s specialist pre-employment service for young people aged 15-24 years. Providers of the Transition to Work program deliver intensive and personalised support to help young people develop practical skills to get a job (including apprenticeships and training) or education.
The Government undertook a competitive tender process for the new Transition to Work service to commence nationally from 1 July 2022 to 2027.
Chairman of Angus Knight, Michael Hobday, said: “The Angus Knight group of companies works closely in communities to deliver skills and employment pathways into local jobs. Through Transition to Work, we can empower more young people in regional areas to engage in education and employment and enjoy a better future as a result.”
In regional areas, youth disengagement with employment and education is typically higher than in greater capital cities. Jobfind is already on the ground servicing disadvantaged job seekers in Cairns, and Real Futures has been operating in Geraldton for more than four years.
CEO of Jobfind, Karena Newland, is excited to add a youth-specialised offering to Jobfind’s 5-star disability employment service operating in Cairns city, Atherton, Cardwell, Innisfail, and Mareeba.
“We know that young people experienced major setbacks due to the pandemic over the past two years. Their education was disrupted, their mental health suffered, and job opportunities were lost. The Transition to Work program is a genuine investment in helping them move forward in life,” Ms Newland said.
Acting CEO of Real Futures and Darug woman, Christianna Cartwright, welcomes the opportunity to deliver a youth-specific service in Geraldton alongside Real Futures’ Vocational Education and Training Centre and disability employment service.
“Ultimately, we want to prepare young people with the skills and attributes to get the local jobs in growing industries. When young people secure a job, they can enjoy a better future,” Ms Cartwright said.
In establishing their Transition to Work service, both Jobfind and Real Futures plan to create a new Youth Advisory Forum including young people, employers and training providers.
“We are committed to engaging young people throughout the development and delivery of this service to ensure their voices are heard,” Mr Hobday said.
Angus Knight will be activating hundreds of its local and national training, employers, and community partners to create more opportunities for young people in Cairns and Geraldton to start building their careers. “Our model of working in partnership with others creates greater opportunities and pathways into local jobs and that’s been proven over our 30-year history,” said Mr Hobday.
Planning is now underway for Jobfind and Real Futures to open their doors to Transition to Work participants from 1 July 2022.
For more information, contact Emma Kirby, National Marketing Manager on emma.kirby@arcangusknight.wpengine.com
Above Image: Ronald Baron who is a young man from Geraldton that works at Rio Tinto as a Trainee Haul Truck Operator.
