By CASEY NEILL
GREATER Dandenong businesses can tap into the youth workforce with a hand from the Beacon Foundation.
Its Real Futures Generation project, which has Federal Government support, has channelled 141 young people into employment since it started in November 2011.
The process includes engaging with businesses to identify job opportunities, connecting with schools and identifying appropriate students to work with and activities to build students’ knowledge and understanding of employment.
A report on phase one of the Real Futures Generation initiative found that more young people were better equipped to secure employment and an increasing number of young people had made a positive transition from school into the workplace through apprenticeships, traineeships and entry-level jobs.
Of the students employed through the initiative, 93 per cent were performing on par or above industry standard according to their employers and employers rated nearly 75 per cent as “exceptional”.
Eighty-six per cent of those employed through the project in the past six months were still in their position at the end of the pilot.
Beacon Foundation CEO Scott Harris said the project’s second phase would engage with more employers and schools and “allow for more diverse pathways to employment for both students and employers”.
Managing director Todd Hartley from Dandenong South’s Hilton Manufacturing last year visited Dandenong High School to conduct a ‘business blackboard’ with Year 11 and 12 VCAL maths classes.
They used magnetic cut-outs of parts to demonstrate the importance of waste, budgeting, quality and profit.
Students were then told jobs were available and offered a factory floor tour.
Twenty-five took part and completed a ‘prepare for work’ course to help them understand what was appropriate in the workplace and how to communicate with colleagues.
They were then offered a tour with their parents and a chance to apply for a job. Eight ended up working on the factory floor.
Mr Hartley said he had missed a generation of students and had no workers aged under 26.
“We haven’t been able to attract young people into manufacturing because they didn’t realise it was a sophisticated industry,” he said.
“Beacon’s been a great bridge between the youth and manufacturing.”
Beacon Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that helps provide positive pathways and opportunities for students from schools in disadvantaged communities.
Real Futures Generation will see another 200 young people placed into jobs by the end of next year.
Email Anthony Garnham at anthony@beaconfoundation.net for more information or to get involved.
