Support for Ganbina
Worktrainers has supported Shepparton based Indigenous employment and training organisation Ganbina since 2000 when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two organisations to help improve employment opportunities for Goulburn Valley Indigenous people.
Worktrainers strategy of supporting indigenous employment by having a strong relationship with Ganbina has seen a number of initiatives that have been of significant benefit to Indigenous jobseekers.
Ladders to Success
This 2000 to 2003 project designed by Ganbina and supported administratively and financially by Worktrainers resulted in its first year seeing 27 indigenous job seekers achieving six months, plus outcomes in the careers of their choice, and a total of 37 Indigenous job seekers receiving a job start as a result of the project. The majority of the participants who achieved a 6 month outcome in employment now have careers that are ongoing to this day.
School to Work Transition (Jobs 4 U 2)
This project has been devised by Ganbina and targets the poor retention rates of Indigenous students in the Goulburn Valley. It is funded totally by private funding and works with young Indigenous people from late primary school right through to upper secondary school and TAFE and University.
Those targeted are young indigenous people particularly those in danger of ‘dropping out’ of the education system and assistance is provided to young Indigenous people at school (or who have dropped out of school), to help them find work experience and paid after-school and holiday work. The project also helps to encourage school retention. Worktrainers is a major supporter and a strong local backer of the project.
With Jobs 4 U 2, Worktrainers and Ganbina are involved in a national profile project. These networks with regional and state managers of national companies should allow better local job opportunities. The organisations currently involved are: Vic Health, ANZ, Woolworths/Safeway, Coles Myer, Harris Scarf and McDonalds.
Ongoing Support
Worktrainers Memorandum of Understanding with Ganbina has seen Worktrainers making substantial contributions to Ganbina since 2000 to allow Ganbina to fund its projects so that they are independent of Government funding. This independence has provided for innovative projects that work, that have National and State as well as local recognition, and are able to be ongoing and that make a real difference for young Indigenous people in the GV. Put simply Ganbina do what works and only deliver services that get results.
Worktrainers and Ganbina have found that a cooperative approach and systems sharing where appropriate allows both organisations to increase their combined impact on reducing the problem of Indigenous disadvantage. We also share business systems and intelligence and always try to have a joint approach to improving education, employment and life outcomes for the GV Indigenous community.
Current Projects
GV United Way Goulburn Valley Community Fund
L-R: Justin Mohammed - Board Member of Ganbina, Sharman Stone - Federal Member for Murray, Alan Guest-Smith - Vice Chair of Worktrainers at MOU signing between Ganbina and Worktrainers.