Tuesday, 5th December, 2017

Young jobseekers in the Latrobe Valley will receive a kick start to their careers with help from Ladder and the AFL industry.

A new partnership between the Latrobe Valley Authority and Ladder will deliver an 18 month pilot to upskill disadvantaged youth, using the resources of the AFL industry so they get the skills needed to get ongoing work.

Ladder was established by a group of AFL players in 2007 in a bid to empower young people to break the cycle of homelessness and its consequences. Ladder is the Official Charity of AFL Players and a national partner of the AFL.

The program is part of Andrews Labor Government’s commitment to ensuring everyone, including local young people are able to take advantage of the region’s growth through involvement in the workforce.

The pilot program will target more than 60 people aged 16 to 25 who face barriers to employment and are at risk of homelessness residing in or near Morwell, Moe or Churchill over eighteen months.

The program will add to the range of initiatives underway which support employment for people in the Latrobe Valley, which includes helping businesses expand and diversify and tender for major government contracts.

The Labor Government is creating to supporting a brighter, fairer future for the Latrobe Valley.

Over 320 new jobs have been created through the Latrobe Valley Economic Facilitation Fund, 300 local unemployed people have been employed through the expanded Back to Work Scheme, and 48 former Hazelwood employees have secured employment with other power generators as a result of the Worker Transfer Scheme.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing:

“This program is great news for young people in the Latrobe Valley, allowing them to get the skills they need to find a job.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll:

“We’re making things fairer for young jobseekers so that they can take advantage of the new jobs being created in the Latrobe Valley.”

Quotes attributable to Latrobe Valley Authority Chief Executive Officer Karen Cain:

“With Ladder’s strong coaching philosophy, work experience provided by corporate and community partners, and engagement with AFL footballers as mentors, this program will set local young people up for success.“

Quotes attributable to Ladder Chief Executive Officer Elisabeth Tuckey:

“Ladder’s approach is to focus on young people’s strengths and what they can achieve. It is about developing self-confidence and helping young people to identify”