Youth Projects have expanded their mental health and employment services to benefit residents in the western suburbs, including those living in Maribyrnong.
The independent not-for-profit organisation has launched hubs in Footscray, Werribee, Point Cook, St Albans, Sunshine, Taylors Lakes, Altona Meadows, Watergardens and Hoppers Crossing to help young people enter the workforce as part of the federal government’s Transition to Work program.
Youth Projects chief executive Ben Vasiliou said the Transition to Work initiative was “no ordinary jobs program”.
“We are strengths-based and work with young people to help them realise their full potential,” he said.
“Be it study, on the job training, skills certificates, traineeships, apprenticeships – this will all be part of the program.
“We look at the social determinants of health to support young people to live healthy, happy and productive lives.”
Since Transition to Work was launched in Northwest Melbourne in 2016, Youth Projects has supported 2160 young people find meaningful employment and education pathways and contributed to decreasing the unemployment rate in the region.
Mr Vasiliou said they were looking forward to expanding their services to young people in Melbourne’s west.
“Young people in the west of Melbourne need us most right now, and we aren’t going to sit around waiting for them to find us,” he said.
“We’re taking our highly successful model from the north-west of Melbourne to the west to meet young people where they’re at and provide the opportunities they desperately need right now.
“The west is rich and vibrant with jobs and study options, and we’re on a mission to support 15,000 young people into growth industries like social & health care, technology and manufacturing to keep them connected with their local community.”
Youth Projects will also launch youth employment and mental health hubs across Box Hill, Cheltenham, Cranbourne, Dandenong, Frankston and Noble Park over the coming months with plans to expand where they deem their services are needed over the coming years.
