BATFORCESchool Focused Youth Service

March 2012 Minutes

Next Meeting

Thursday 3rdMay 2012

10am to Midday

Please note April meeting cancelled.

Minutes of the Meeting –March 2012

ATTENDANCE
Leigh Bartlett / BATForce / Lynn Longworth / BATForce
Peter Brown / Chair / Clare Barrett / Catholic Care
Emily Nester / Barwon Youth / Jen Hall / Time 4 Youth
Maggie Sapunar / Sacred Heart Coll / Deb Barclay / Barwon Youth
Lorraine Bennett / Barwon Youth / Tom Mullane – Grant / Golden Plains
Claire Paterson / Barwon Youth / Andrew Hurst / Vic Police
Sacha Murphy / Time 4 Youth / Chris McGrath / Pathways
John Townsend / Barwon Youth / Caitlyn McLoughlin / Collins Place
Gavin Fitzgerald / CFA / Paul Smith / CFA
Marina Power / Barwon Youth / Anna Burke / DHS
Alyissa Mitchell / DHS / Phoebe Chiller / Barwon Youth
Deb Carody / Collins Place / Fiona Lorimer / MacKillop
Lowell Hunter / VAEAI
Apologies
Greg Hansen / BATForce / Sara Lewis / DHS
Mel Taylor / BATForce / Jayde Mulder / Barwon Medicare
Jill Chapman / BCLS / Jill Meade / Barwon Youth
Barry Hocking / Diversitat

Introduction & Welcome – Peter Brown – Chairperson

Host Presentation

John Townsend – Barwon Youth – Key Events

Ambassador for Barwon Youth - June Kane is an internationally respected expert in human rights, specifically in the fields of violence against children and women, child labour, sexual abuse and exploitation of children, and human trafficking. As an Independent Expert since 1996, Dr Kane has worked with governments, UN agencies (particularly the ILO and UNICEF), and regional bodies and grassroots organizations on a wide range of initiatives. Her work has covered research and writing; strategy, programme and policy planning; capacity building; evaluation and monitoring. She has a profound understanding of current issues in child labour/ trafficking and in 2008 developed the first anti-child trafficking training manual and resource kit for UN.GIFT, the UN’s global initiative to fight human trafficking.

Developing Themes to help Youth sector – Jan Owens - Our young people – the successful, the just-get-on-with-its, the abused, the forgotten, the ignored – all want to be happy. As with any of us, young people seek happiness by belonging – to family, to peers, to a tribe. By having control over a future they can create. By living with a fulfilling purpose. And, magnificently, if given half a chance, by contributing to making the world a better place.

And yet, despite sharing in these universal desires, our young people are increasingly a tribe apart from other generations.

Minister Youth Affairs – Ryan Smith - Attended Barwon Youth to attend the Big Brother/Big Sister Program.

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters was first established in Australia in the late 1970’s and now operates across 6 different states (VIC – Melbourne and Geelong, WA- Perth, NSW – Sydney, NT – Darwin, SA- Adelaide, QLD- Roma and Sunshine Coast)
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters is a preventative program which provides young people with a caring adult mentor in their lives
  • The program is based on the US model which has been running for almost 100 years
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters is the largest youth mentoring program in Australia and around the world, operating in 35 International countries
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters operates under the most rigorous and clearly defined structures and policies of any mentoring program
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters ensures careful selection of all potential volunteers ( a process involving national police record checks, Working With Children Checks, written applications, interviews, referee checks and psychological profiling), thorough assessment and matching of young people, ongoing mentor training, monitoring and supervision.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters Geelong has a high demand for male volunteers given the large numbers of young men on our waiting list

GENERAL BUSINESS

An opportunity to discuss new initiatives, introduce new workers, general youth agency news, trends in youth activities, raise issues of concern, ask questions, raise issues for the Policy & Planning Process.

Chris McGrath – MadCap Café - Pathways

What is Madcap Café?

Madcap Cafes are fully operational, funky, commercial cafes where you can get great coffee, great food and great service.

The thing that makes Madcap Cafes different from your average café is that theywere established for one major reason – to assist people who are experiencing a mental illness to enter, or re-enter, the workforce.

MadCap Cafes provide work opportunities for people experiencing mental ill health, and also strive towards increasing community understanding of mental illness.

The cafes employ a mix of people - some of whom have experienced mental health problems, and others who just know our cafés are great places to work.

(Don'thave mental health issues and are just looking for a jobat a great Cafe? Check the employment vacancies section on the Pathways Geelong website.)

Madcap Café Geelong

Madcap Café in Geelong is run by Pathways Rehabilitation and Support Services Ltd.

Like other Madcap Cafes, MadCap Café in Geelong offers a supportive work and training opportunity to people who face barriers in finding employment due to having experienced a mental illness.

What happens at the Geelong Madcap Cafe?

Geelong Madcap is a fully operational commercial café in the Westfield shopping precinct.

The café employs a mix of people – some of whom have experienced mental health problems.

People with a mental illness who work at MadCap Cafe are called "trainees" because they are part of Madcap’s transitional employment traineeship program. As well as gaining valuable work experience at the café, most of our trainees are also assisted to undertake additional training on the job to assist them in future employment. There are several intakes into the 6 month traineeship program throughout the year.

How can I find work at Madcap Geelong?

For those who do not have a mental illness, but who are looking for work at a great café, check for vacancies in the employment section of the Pathways Geelong website.

If you have experienced mental health issues, and are experiencing difficulties in returning to the workforce, you may be interested in entering the Madcap Cafe transitional employment training program, and gaining work as a “trainee” at the café.

In order to be eligible for this program, you must:

Have a professionally diagnosed mental illness.

Live in and around the City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway Shire, Surf Coast Shire, Borough of Queenscliff and the Golden Plains Shire.

Be between the ages of 16 and 65

How do I join the Madcap Geelong transitional employment program?

The first step toward gaining a traineeship at Madcap Geelong in 2012 is to attend an information session. These are held once a month, and will give you the opportunity to hear about the Café, the 6 month training and employment program and the type of supports offered by Pathways Geelong to help you achieve your training and employment goals.

Bookings are essential – please phone: Pathways: 52298295 to book into the next Madcap Geelong information session.

Following attendance at the information session, you may decide to apply for a 6 month traineeship and employment at Madcap Geelong, or you may decide that this path is not for you at the moment. (If you do decide not to pursue employment for now, Pathways staff may be able to provide you with information about other options.)

There are 2 main points of entry to a transitional employment traineeship at Madcap Geelong. These will be explained in more detail at the information session.

The first entry point is for those who are already registered with a Disability Employment Service, and who feel confident enough to move directly into a traineeship and part-time employment at Madcap. Your DES worker will assist you in applying directly to the Café management via Pathways employment process.

The second entry point is for those who feel they may need additional support and the chance to build confidence and skills before commencing employment. Pathways offer a
‘pre-vocational” training program to help you feel more comfortable about entering the workforce. If this interests you, you will be offered a meeting with a Pathways pre-vocational employment staff member to discuss what further support you may need, and to explore with you the option of joining Pathways pre-vocational training program before applying for a traineeship or employment.

What happens at the Pre-vocational program?

This pre-vocational training program is run over 2 days per week for 11 weeks at Pathways day program house in Geelong.

The program is designed to help you develop confidence and basic workplace skills. It will also include one or two short trial shifts at Madcap Café or Clearwater Business Services to give you a chance to “test the waters” in the workplace. If you are not already registered with a Disability Employment Serviceor a Job Support Agency, you will also be assisted to do so to enable you to apply for a traineeship or employment at the Café.

Following completion of the pre-vocational program, those who are still interested in working at Madcap Café will be supported to apply for one of the 6 month trainee positions as vacancies arise. Other graduates of the program will be assisted to pursue other personal, educational or employment goals

How long can I work at Madcap Geelong?

Each trainee works at MadCap Cafe for a total of 6 months. Trainees sometimes take time off when the symptoms of their mental illness become more severe but they can come back to the cafe as their recovery progresses. So, for some trainees the 6 month program can take longer.

What if I need additional support when I start work at the Café?

We know that starting any new job can be stressful, so in addition to the support you will receive from other staff and trainers at the café, we can help you find extra help if needed.

Trainees who come through the Pathways Pre-vocational program will be allocated a key support worker at the start of the pre-vocational program who will follow them throughout the program and into the traineeship. Those who come to the café directly from a Disability Employment service will continue to meet with their employment consultant during and after their time with Madcap.

All trainees are encouraged to use their usual support networks, but are also assisted to register with other Pathways support and counselling programs if required – these options will be outlined at the Madcap Information session.

What happens after my 6 months of work at Madcap Geelong?

The 6 month traineeship and on the job support gives trainees the opportunity to develop personal and practical work skills, and current work experience to add to their employment resume. This can make all the difference in applying for other jobs. Trainees will be given assistance in seeking other employment by their DES employment consultant, and trainees are also welcome to apply for any ongoing work in the café as vacancies arise.

Deb Barclay – Street Surfer Bus – Barwon Youth -Barwon Youth has recently secured Adult Community and Further Education (ACFE) funding to deliver a youth education and training outreach program - MYBUS2 in the Geelong area.

The MYBUS2 project will connect with local organisations such as schools, local Community Houses, health services, local council etc., to identify the needs of young people disengaged from the schooling system.

The program will offer outreach activities to attract young people and encourage them to engage in training programs tailored to their specific needs utilising the Certificate of General Education for Adults (CGEA). This approach may take various forms, such as art, IT, cooking, health and wellbeing programs etc., both accredited and pre accredited training. The program was launched in 2011.

2012 ACTIVITIES WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON

Meeting Closed 11.30am