Annual Report 2019

2019 was another year of innovation at Future Connect. Several exciting new activities were added to our events schedule. Our regular events such as the Brimbank Careers Fair and the SBAT Breakfast were very well received and generated great feedback.

Each staff member at Future Connect has led at least one major project and should be acknowledged. The Future Connect Logistics Project was a new way for us to explore the disconnect between young people’s interests and the jobs on offer in our area now and into the future. Through this project we addressed the question ‘how can we interest young people in logistics careers?’ I would like to thank Di Debrincat, Workplace Learning Project Officer for her leadership, enthusiasm and persistence in this very accomplished project.

In the spirit of showing students the range of roles they might pursue. Twenty two students were taken on an industry visit to Flemington Racecourse. They were able to see the many jobs on offer in the horse racing industry – this ranged from grooms to chefs and horticulturalists to IT. Robin Lockington was instrumental in ensuring the success of this industry visit.

Lyndsay Mandaru joined us in 2019 and enthusiastically and very capably immediately organised the SBAT Breakfast. She very quickly developed her skills in SWL and is proving to be a very capable Workplace Learning Coordinator.

As always, Lea Lucas has continued to be the driving force behind the Brimbank Careers Fair. Organising exhibitors, sponsors and (perhaps most challenging of all!!) catering. Of course, for an organisation our size, running such a big event (1600+ students, 8 schools and 60+ exhibitors) requires the whole team to contribute. Maria Cox was involved in the planning of the Brimbank Careers Fair and we also thank her for her contributions to many activities in early 2019. Maria left us to go to Head Start so we are pleased to continue to cross paths with her.

It is important that I acknowledge the time, commitment and support of the Committee of Management. Bizarrely, in 2019 we had three Chairs and I thank each of them for their work. Ollie Gladwell was Chair until the AGM and her energy and tireless enthusiasm and support for the LLEN is much appreciated.

Ron Miers very aptly jumped into the breach. His professionalism, commitment (and occasional jaded scepticism) was vital and his continued commitment to the Committee of Management Executive lent much appreciated expertise.

Finally, Rose Lewanski became Chair (again, she has been the LLEN Chair in 2020). Anyone who hears Rose speak about Future Connect could not help but be touched by her compassion, generosity and commitment to the young people of Brimbank and Melton.

I thank all of the Committee of Management members for their support of Future Connect and many have offered a great deal of support to me personally. As we embark on a period of change in our governance structure I would also like to acknowledge the Governance Sub-Committee, ably chaired by Ruth Giles and including Piper Rodd, Ollie Gladwell, Tanya Sofra and our chair and deputy chair Rose Lewanski and Sally Edwards. Their work on the painstaking process of updating our rules and working through the ramifications has been tireless.

In this period of health, societal and economic uncertainly it is natural to be concerned about unemployment and particularly youth unemployment rates. We are seeing unprecedented increases in the rate of people needing to access welfare and unemployment benefits. This period of uncertainty highlights the importance of the role of LLENS; to provide school and industry connections, support various networks and collaborations, and facilitate Structured Workplace Learning. We continue to be committed to the young people, employers and schools of Brimbank and Melton.