Two local community organisations on the Gold Coast are working together to assist young people to re-engage into society. Busy Beat in Southport is supporting Gold Coast Project for Homeless Youth (GCPHY) participants to transition into the workforce or further education and training. The relationship between the two organisations is achieving a high success rate of engagement among the young people who have been referred.
GCPHY is an incorporated community organisation formed in 1984 to provide accommodation and support for homeless young people in the Gold Coast Local Government area. GCPHY have three residential facilities on the Gold Coast and also a Mobile Support component that supports young people to sustain independent living. As part of the process, clients are encouraged to engage in a training course or actively apply for employment and are given assistance by staff at Busy Beat in the process.
Young people have the opportunity to speak to a career consultant or youth project officer at Busy Beat to establish and identify the direction they would like their career to head in. The support that the young people are receiving from Busy Beat is proving very successful, with a large number of clients having engaged in the R U BUSY? program in the past or having accessed Busy Beat for assistance to successfully transition into employment.
Gold Coast Project for Homeless Youth mobile support participant, Mea was able to speak to an employment consultant at Busy Beat to identify her skills and career goals. Together the pair worked through her skills, personality and attitudes and found there was a real opportunity for Mea to get a job in the retail industry and re-engage back in the workforce. Part of the consultation involved looking at ways that she could improve her cover letter and resume and where to look for suitable employment options. Community Services Officer, Selena Baillie from Busy Beat was thrilled to hear from Mea’s Youth Worker advising that she had found employment “Mea has now begun a positive career at a large national retailer and because of this she is now succeeding in other areas of her life” she says.
Selena added that there have also been some fantastic changes in the young people who have accessed the R U BUSY? Youth Engagement Program. The Certificate 2 in Self Awareness and Development has had some really positive changes in their self-esteem. Participants have engaged in the whole program, graduating with flying colours, something they have never achieved before.
Busy Beat is a service run by BUSY At Work, a not-for-profit organisation originally established to deliver training and employment programs to homeless youth on the Gold Coast. BUSY is now using their knowledge and training to bring hope back to local Gold Coast residents in need. They recently relocated their pre-employment and training centre to Nind Street in Southport to support job seekers. Free assistance is provided in a supportive and friendly environment with resume writing, interview preparation and job search training.
For more information about Busy Beat or R U BUSY? in Southport please phone 07 5528 3816.
