Questions/Answers
Question 1
Please provide a brief summary of the initiative including the problems/challenges it addressed and the solutions that the initiative introduced (300 words maximum)
Youth StepUP Project focuses on providing a cultural bridge into the Australian Labour Market, equipping refugee and migrant youth with the tools they need to find their way in this sometimes complicated system they need to navigate. The primary aim is to strengthen soft skills development in young job seekers increasing their opportunities to attain and maintain employment. Canterbury Bankstown City Council in partnership with MTC Australia, Department of Human Service Centrelink, NSW Education & Communities State Training Services, Greenacre Area Community Centre and Melkite Catholic Welfare Association have been working with youth related employment initiatives in Bankstown for over four years. Youth StepUp has produced the Youth StepUP Apps and the Facilitators Guide and Workbooks that aim to simplify the Australian Labour Market, explains the Cycle of Employment, covers aspects of Cultural Awareness, introductory Presentation skills, Resume writing and Interview skills. The workshops are interactive and contain opportunities for role plays and mock interviews. We aim to help young people from refugee backgrounds to understand that their cultural diversity is an asset and assist in their soft skill development. Youth StepUP was created as a direct result of high unemployment rates amongst youth in Canterbury Bankstown. The youth unemployment rate in Sydney's east is only 4.1 per cent, while Canterbury-Bankstown in the west is the city's worst-affected area, with an unemployment rate of 19.1 per cent for people aged 15-24. The national youth unemployment rate is 11.6 per cent, compared with a national unemployment rate of 5.5 per cent. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/fears-for-lost-generation-of-jobless-youth-20130629-2p465.html#ixzz2d7Jr8Mto
a. What are the overall objectives of the initiative?
Please describe the overall objectives of the initiative (200 words maximum)
Youth StepUP project aims to increase awareness amongst local community groups about educational and training opportunities. By familiarising them with key players in the work environment such as Unions, Human Resources, Industrial relations and other departments that can assist them, they become empowered in their journey. Youth StepUp also provides opportunities of youth to attain employable soft skills such as body language, presentation skills and cultural awareness training. Youth StepUP will endeavour to bring any current updates on training in soft skills, cultural awareness, communication skills and educational support through this webpage and our Apps. We will also provide links to appropriate employment support sites. Canterbury Bankstown City Council in partnership with MTC Australia, Department of Human Service Centrelink, NSW Education & Communities State Training Services, Greenacre Area Community Centre and Melkite Catholic Welfare Association have been working with youth related employment initiatives in the Canterbury Bankstown area for over four years now with fantastic results.
b. How does the initiative fit within the selected category?
Please describe how the initiative is linked to the criteria of the category (200 words maximum)
Canterbury Bankstown is an increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community. The 2011 census reflected that one in three people in Bankstown were born in a non English speaking Country and that one in two speaks a language other than English at home. This increasing diversity makes the City a vibrant and interesting place to live it also attracts many refugee and migrant groups who are at times our most vulnerable due to issues around language local understanding of the jobs markets and underlining racism which prohibits them taking and maintaining jobs this images further vulnerabilities and has a direct impact on their access to health, education and a quality of life. The most common overseas birthplaces in Canterbury Bankstown in 2011 were Lebanon, Vietnam and China, followed by the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, India and Egypt. There are also new communities moving to Bankstown such as the emerging African communities. This project directly identifies these vulnerable groups and works with them to provide support particularly around soft skill development many have skills in their chosen fields however lack the soft skills that are needed to progress into recruitment and job maintenance this project addresses their specific needs to remove such barriers and provide strong linkages to promote educational and employment pathways
Question 2
The initiative should improve people’s lives, notably by enhancing the contribution of public services to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the SDGs
a. Please explain how the initiative improves the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
The project provides connectivity with service users and services providers in a language and communication style that is accessible and cultural sensitive, it simplifies and assists in navigating a complex system with many refugee and migrants communications have expressed is a issue for them to access educational and employment pathways. The free smart phone technology assists in the user to attain information and services that are currently available to them allows user to create professional resumes and support their interview skills giving them a chance in getting the best outcome from employment journey helping them settling into the Australian communities and become productive members of our society.
Question 3
The initiative must impact positively a group or groups of the population (i.e. children, women, elderly, people with disability, etc) and address a significant issue of public service delivery within the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant issue related to the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
When refugee and migrant women are not able to sustain work they are further pushed in to disperse and not able to quality health, education and economic benefits to their families which has a huge impact on their lives ,this projects gives them simplified connections and support to excel and support their employment opportunities giving them the best opportunities to maximize their efforts. when our refugee and migrant women are strong so are their families and their ability to support these they maybe caring for ( the Elderly and People living with a Disability)
b. Please explain how the initiative has impacted positively a group or groups of the population within the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
This initiative has impacted positively a group or groups of the population within our local and surrounding areas where the majority of refugees and migrants communities reside their feedback has been positive which allows us to sustain its delivery and supports other employment agencies to also look to intensive engagement to provide a better service and outcomes for refugee and migrant youth and women. we have over 900+ local users and the app has been utilized by over 70 + countries around the world.
Question 4
The initiative must present an innovative idea, a distinctively new approach, or a unique policy or approach implemented in order to realize the SDGs in the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain in which way the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
The Youth StepUP Apps and resources where first of its kind as it addressed gaps in the community sector which normally looks after employment related matters, Local Government recognized that many refugee and migrant youth were left behind the uptake of educational and employment pathways we opted to show leadership and not back away from a complex problem rather invite key stake holders to work our solutions that would benefit our target vulnerable group. No such product exists in the country we provided a service and product that is new and innovative and has been recognized by peak bodies as the best of its kind
http://www.startts.org.au/news-events/humanitarian-awards/2016-humanitarian-awards/
Question 4b
b. Please describe if the innovation is original or if it is an adaptation from other contexts (If it is known)? (200 words maximum)
The Project incorporated refugee and migrant involvement and partners from conception to delivery phase which allowed for a authentic response to the resources we were producing we allowed 3 months in testing phase to ensure the tools was easy to use and accessible by our diverse communities we were servicing. The Apps are innovative and did not adapt from other context as all concepts were original and responsive to the needs to our refugee and migrant communities.
Question 4c
c. What resources (i.e. financial, human , material or other resources, etc) were used to implement the initiative? (200 words maximum)
We sort a grant to fund this project and provided in-kind contributions for its ongoing sustainability, we developing a committee to overlook this project and supported its initial launch and the community role out with great reactions from the participants that complete the interactive workshops. We ensured to use refugee graphic artists and supported train the trainer that works directly with our vulnerable groups.
Question 5
The initiative should be adaptable to other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions). There may already be evidence that it has inspired similar innovations in other public-sector institutions within a given country, region or at the global level.
a. Has the initiative been transferred to other contexts?
Yes
This projects has now been delivered in areas outside of our Local Government Area and workshop material has been provide to support both employment and educational sector for adaptation and deliver. The smart phone Apps have been Websites has been accessed by over 70+ Countries worldwide.
Question 6
The initiative should be able to be sustained over a significant period of time.
a. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable (covering the social, economic and environmental aspects) (300 words maximum)
Currently the actual costs of keeping these resources ( Smart phone App) as been the annual Apple fee of $150 the rest has been now pick up in kind support on both administration and rollout of the interactive workshops and presentations at various sector forums and expo's Council is committed to support our vulnerable groups and are committee in its long term delivery. These complex issues that directly impact our vulnerable groups requires more connectively and engagement with local services our vulnerable groups and education/ business sector to look for long term solutions and building resilient communities who have the capacity to thrive and grow in their future direction.
b. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable in terms of durability in time (300 words maximum)
this Project is durable and sustainable due to the commitment of all stakeholders involved the actual cost is a mere $150 Apple annual fee the rest is in kind contributions and support but local government, jobs and employment networks our Department of Human Services and community/ neighborhood Centers
Question 7
The initiative should have gone through a formal evaluation, showing some evidence of impact on improving people’s lives.
a. Has the initiative been formally evaluated?
Yes
If yes, please describe how the initiative was evaluated? (200 words maximum)
the project was evaluated through various mechanisms with included
Data analysis of use of Apps and Webpage
surveys
participants feedback
financial reports
testimonies
were all include
b. Please describe the outcome of the evaluation of the impact of the initiative (200 words maximum)
the outcome of the project was to committee to its sustainability particularly around interactive workshop delivery as this is were we have actual engagement of our vulnerable groups and can have a direct impact in their employment and educational journey
c. Please describe the indicators that were used (200 words maximum)
Google data analysis
and Apple Data analysis
Question 8
The initiative must demonstrate that it has engaged various actors such as from other institutions, civil society, or the private sector, when possible.
a. The 2030 Development Agenda puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, coordination, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe what stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative. Please also highlight their roles and contributions (300 words maximum)
Youth StepUP focuses on providing a cultural bridge into the Australian Labour Market, equipping refugee and migrant youth with the tools they need to find their way in this sometimes complicated system they need to navigate it was essential that all stake holders were involved in producing this tool as they could contribute to it'd development and delivery.The primary aim is to strengthen soft skills development in young job seekers increasing their opportunities to attain and maintain employment.
Canterbury Bankstown City Council in partnership with MTC Australia, Department of Human Service Centrelink, NSW Education & Communities State Training Services, Greenacre Area Community Centre and Melkite Catholic Welfare Association have been working with youth related employment initiatives in Bankstown for over four years.
Youth StepUp has produced the Youth StepUP Facilitators Guide and Workbooks that aim to simplify the Australian Labour Market, explains the Cycle of Employment, covers aspects of Cultural Awareness, introductory Presentation skills, Resume writing and Interview skills. The workshops are interactive and contain opportunities for role plays and mock interviews this have our vulnerable refugee and migrant communities to practice their skills sets in real time and actual interview situations.
Question 9
a. Please describe the key lessons learned, and any view you have on how to further improve the initiative (200 words maximum)
One of the major lessons learned is to incorporate the target group in the whole projects for a authentic outcome it made sense to have them involved the whole way
We ensured to provide opportunities for our target group ( vulnerable refugee and migrant youth ) to be part from conception to delivery and will be using this model in future projects and initiatives and it further strengthens engagement and trust and allows us all to work together for common outcome that benefit the whole community and it's growth.