Ash Bolt
Seventeen local programs supporting students and creating employment have shared in more than $500,000 in funding from the Give Where You Live Foundation.
The foundation recently announced it had awarded $550,800 under its education and employment grants, to support programs that increased learning opportunities for students, access to and readiness for employment and employment retention.
Give Where You Live Foundation chief executive Bill Mithen said “education and employment are key pillars” that needed to be supported.
“Our theory is that if people have adequate education and have the ability to hold down valuable employment and they aren’t inhibited by life crisis, they have the tools they need to not only survive, but to thrive,” he said.
“These grants exist because the systems of education and employment have some gaps, despite these areas being well funded by government. We aim to work with our community partners to help fill those gaps.
“It’s well established that a good education and good employment give people a good platform to live a successful and thriving life. But we also know that in the community at large there are people that don’t get equal experience and equal opportunities.
“It’s a fairness issue. When people are limited in their opportunities for education and employment their opportunities to truly thrive in our community are also limited.”
The largest grants, at $40,000 each, were awarded to Bluebird Foundation and CatholicCare Victoria.
Bluebird Foundation received its grant to work with parents in the 3214 and 3219 postcodes, covering northern and central Geelong, “to develop their capacity as their child’s first and most important teacher”.
CatholicCare Victoria’s grant will allow the organisation to help refugee or asylum seeker youth transition from secondary education to further education or employment.
Kids Plus received a grant of $35,000 to help children and young people with complex communication conditions to remain engaged with their education by expanding speech pathology and communication technology services.
The other organisations to receive grants were Ardoch ($39,350), the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations ($35,000), Back to Back Theatre ($30,000), Barwon Disability Resource Council ($39,385), Cloverdale Community Centre ($10,000), Common Ground Project ($35,963.92), EdConnect Australia ($35,000), MacKillop Family Services ($35,000), Multicultural Community Services Geelong ($18,160), Operation Newstart Victoria ($30,000), Raise Foundation ($35,000), Skyline Education Foundation ($23,000), Somebody’s Daughter Theatre Company ($35,000) and the Song Room ($35,000).
