Through the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative in 2015-16, YFS placed nine young people into paid traineeships, learning land management skills clearing land along the Bethania to Beaudesert Rail Trail.
YFS’ WorkCrew maintenance enterprise provided paid work for 14 people during the year, while our Task carwash employed 13 people.
14
13
A DECENT INCOME
YFS helps people manage their money, overcome financial problems and improve their ability to earn a decent income.
In 2015-16, we reshaped our financial services area to create YFS Connect, a hub bringing together services that help people deal with financial crisis and learn how to manage money for the future. YFS Connect incorporates our intake and referral service (formerly IRAS), our financial counsellors, Money Smart financial capability workers
and emergency relief services.
In April 2016, YFS launched ParentsNext. ParentsNext is a new Federally-funded program for parents of young children to prepare to enter the workforce. In our first three months, we worked with 88 parents, helping them define career goals and make and implement plans to achieve them.
Looking forward: From 2016-17 on, YFS will offer no interest loans through Good Shepherd Microfinance’s No Interest Loans Service (NILS). This will help people working with YFS to access funds for essential
appliances or services. We are also looking forward to ParentsNext reaching full capacity, which will see more than 800 parents each year improve their chances of entering the workforce.
YFS believes: people need to live above the poverty line to achieve a reasonable quality of life and to
avoid financial stress. Employment is the best pathway out of poverty for those who are capable of working.
Children need: resources to succeed. They need good food, education, opportunities to participate
in other activities, and adequate clothing and shelter.
YFS does: YFS helps clients get control of their financial situation. We encourage people to learn to manage money well and make good financial decisions. We work with people to build their ability to earn a decent living.
YFS wants: better support for people from disadvantaged backgrounds to build the skills, confidence and resources to move into the workforce so they can be economically independent. For those who are not able to work, YFS advocates for increases to government benefits to enable people to live above the poverty line.
YFS is funded by the Australian Government and the Queensland Government.
YFS acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are Australia's First
Peoples and the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we meet and work.
Copyright © 2016 YFS Ltd | ACN 167 122 527 | AS/NZS ISO 9001/14001 Privacy
YFS Website
PDF Print version
AMY'S STORY
^
BACK TO MAIN PAGE
NEXT STORY
PREVIOUS STORY
Amy, 24, has faced many challenges in life including single parenthood and domestic violence.
YFS’ new ParentsNext project has given Amy a head start to return to the workforce.
She is determined, outgoing and bubbly.
“I came in for my first appointment at YFS and before I knew it I had started hands-on training in construction.”
Amy had been out of the workforce since she had her two children, a five year old boy and a two year old girl.
Amy says dealing with domestic violence twice and the difficulties of being a single parent made it hard to imagine getting back
into working.
“It took me a while to find myself. I lost the person I was,” she said.
“Determination to be there for my children is what brought
me back.”
She had been to YFS before when she needed help getting her
birth certificate and also attended counselling for her domestic violence issues.
This time, Amy was referred by Centrelink to YFS’ ParentsNext project.
Through ParentsNext, Amy is back to work and going from strength to strength.
Within two weeks, YFS referred Amy to Break Thru, where she undertakes the theory part of her traineeship under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, with paid work experience at Stoddart Manufacturing and Substation33.
“It was awesome when I came back to YFS. My ParentsNext worker was a very easy person to talk to and she could see that I was determined to get out there and work, I didn’t want to muck around.”
“It was a very quick process. My worker gives me weekly phone calls to find out how I’m going; what I’ve been doing which I really enjoy. It’s good to actually have that contact. Most job providers don’t make the effort to do that.”
“It’s been four weeks now. I love it. Construction wasn’t an industry I thought I would enjoy or something that I had actually looked into, but I wouldn’t go back. I’m now looking into making it further;
I want to get more skills. It has been an absolute joy. I now have pretty much a straight routine and I’m happy with it.”
Working has brought a big change in Amy’s life. She will finish her traineeship in November and she can’t wait to go into a full time job or an apprenticeship.
“I feel excellent. This is something that I haven’t done in a while and I needed it. It makes me happy to know for a fact that I’m actually making something with myself. I feel better as a person and as parent too, because I know I’m doing the right thing for my children.
^
top
2015-2016 IMPACT REPORT
Menu
