BY JARROD McALEESE
A FOUR-YEAR contract has been awarded to SkillsPlus to operate the incoming Federally-funded Transition to Work program.
Young Pakenham residents aged 15-21 facing barriers to employment will be provided with intensive one-to-one advice and support.
BRACE Chief Operations Officer Ben Vasiliou said that SkillsPlus was delighted to be given the chance to assist community members who were having difficulty finding employment.
“We are thrilled about the opportunity to increase our services to the young people who need it the most,” Mr Vasiliou said.
The Transition to Work service will be added to SkillsPlus’s established locations in Springvale and Pakenham and will co-locate with ECHO at its Fountain Gate and Cranbourne offices.
“We have a number of sites across Victoria where we provide a pathway from education and training into employment.
“As a youth specialist provider we believe social and economic participation should be a right for all individuals in our community,” Mr Vasiliou said.
Mr Vasiliou said that SkillsPlus believes that the outcomes it delivers for its clients benefit both the individual and the community.
“We build upon young people’s strength and skills, address barriers to obtaining employment and promote job ready candidates to the local job market.
“Our staff know that connecting young people to the community and local jobs is a good investment for society as it increases social inclusion and economic prosperity,” Mr Vasiliou said.
SkillsPlus will commence the Transition to Work service on 27 March.
