Annual Report 2024
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Piper Rodd
Chair
Maree Roberts
Deputy Chair
David Turnbull
Board Member
Catherine Armstrong
Board Member
Reana Cazar
Board Member
Chair's Report
Piper Rodd – Chair Future Connect
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Chair’s Report
It is once again with great pleasure that I write this report documenting the activities of Future Connect’s Board of Management. I want to thank our CEO, Deirdre Hardy, for her continued commitment to Future Connect as she works hard to ensure the young people in community can access the best opportunities for transitions into the workforce. Her considered and astute business acumen and her compassion allows her to work closely with her wonderful team – Megan, Lea, Najib, Ava, Ronan and Jonathon – ensuring young people are well-supported in developing work-ready skills and knowledge through the growing diversity of activities they help create in community.
Over the course of the past year, the Board has worked to support Deirdre and her team to develop sustainable solutions for self-sufficiency in all aspects of our operation. This project is not new and is ongoing as we respond to continued uncertainty in terms of government funding revenue and scope of contracting obligations into the future. Recognising the need for stability in our organisational leadership and coherent direction into the future, the Board has renewed our CEO’s contract for a five-year term. As such, we contracted a consultant specialising in not-for-profit and community organisations to work with us to determine options best suited to our work in Brimbank and Melton. Diversifying our funding also provides us with the chance to review our service delivery in and for our community as we aim to meet young people where they’re at responsively. Deirdre and I look forward to continuing this important work and will be undertaking a course in governance for social impact later this year to help inform our leadership responsibilities.
We continue to work closely with other members of the Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN) recognising that the continued strength of our community-based approach to providing responsive learning and training options is our collective unity. One of the great assets for all of us within the LLEN has been this ability to share ideas and resources, drawing on and accentuating our individual strengths.
Finally, I want to thank the members of the Board for their contributions and commitment to the continued work of Future Connect. Maree Roberts, Catherine Armstrong, Reana Cazar and David Turnbull bring a variety of invaluable perspectives drawing on their combined decades of professional experience. Once again, it is as a collective that we thrive, working together for the communities and young people of Brimbank and Melton.
Chief Executive Officer's Report
DEIRDRE HARDY – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FUTURE CONNECT
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CEO Report
2024 was another whirlwind year at Future Connect! We are grateful to the many businesses that support us but also the individuals who exemplify community and the collaborative spirit that is so evident in the west.
It was the ‘middle’ year of our three year School to Work contract which enabled us to build on the growth of the previous year. I continue to sit on the executive of the LLEN Network and value the collegiality of the 31 strong network. Our chair, Piper Rodd also Chairs the LLEN Chairs’ Network. We also worked hard to build our programs outside the School to Work contract.
Industry tours showcased ongoing, secure employment opportunities in the west. Highlights include the Amazon, Scalzo, Melbourne Airport and the newly introduced Big Battery Project. Schools were very responsive to the many events we organised and Najib Warsame worked hard to lock in dates and numbers early on. This enabled us to have a full calendar of events available for schools to choose from early in the year. I’ve had staff from several schools comment on it being a pleasure to work with Najib.
For the first time since COVID, we were seeing increased uptake for SWL and Work Experience from local employers. We appreciate their ongoing support for local students. A notable employer is Melton Party Hire who have had over 60 students do placements with them!
We innovated group work experiences and, in partnership with the Western Edge VET Cluster, worked with students to re-imagine the WEC website. The young people involved developed technical skills, their communication and team work capabilities and presented to Suzana Parashis and teachers from their schools.
I always need to acknowledge and thank our many Networks, including Career Practitioners Network, Koorie Network, SBAT Advisory Group and West As Advisory Group.
The SBAT Advisory group always support the running and format of the SBAT Breakfast. This is an annual event that introduces schools and providers as well as updating on any news about SBATs. I always particularly enjoy hearing from students at this event and thank them for the courage and commitment it takes to speak in public. In 2024, Natasha Allen spoke about her experience doing an SBAT and was ably supported by Margaret Zerafa her employer from Leisure Employment Australia. Margaret has since joined the SBAT Advisory Group.
Our other longstanding annual event is the Careers Exploration Day. Lea Lucas always does an amazing job co-ordinating the exhibitors, sponsors and schools (including buses!). On the day itself she sorts out the many issues that crop up during any event – from exhibitors needing more power points to students without an epi pen!
We have increased our engagement with the VET Clusters and this was demonstrated by the successful VET Exploration Day run in May. There were 11 schools, 262 students who were able to experience VET courses at AGA and CRC Sydenham. This also meant buses to co-ordinate and Megan Cooke did an amazing job organising all the logistics on the day.
You may be noticing a bit of a buses theme! We also have co-ordinated buses for the Western Edge and Brimbank VET Cluster students for their weekly VET Classes. This is funded by Department of Education and 720 student trips were made using this service. The buses run from both Melton Secondary College and Watergardens to take students to AGA in Deer Park. This allows students to attend VET they may not otherwise have been able to access.
We continued to work closely with PiPAN and the partner organisations to further the Future Recruit initiative and the Forget Me Not modules as well as developing our capacity for evaluation. Future Recruit is an ongoing project that was developed through WestAs co-design sessions. It simplifies giving feedback to job applicants by providing clear, actionable feedback. We appreciated working with PiPAN on this project. Alice Ames led this for the start of the year with Jonathon Cartwright taking over for the latter part of 2024.
YouthGrounds went from strength to strength last year, with amazing support from Melton Council. Alice Ames and Ava Ter were able to refine the program so that we had 2 full programs run with amazing outcomes. You can see these results here
We were also very fortunate to form a partnership with Just Planet for the Term 4 program. Jon Cartwright joined the team and he and Ava supported the Term 4 YouthGrounds participants and Norman Palumbo mentored the group and taught them coffee skills and a great deal more in terms of work readiness and his deep knowledge of the industry.
I would like to thank the board for their vision, passion and commitment. Dr Piper Rodd is a committed chair and provides support to not just Future Connect but the entire LLEN Network through her passion, skill and advocacy. The entire board is cohesive and collaborates to steer the organisation.
Brimbank Careers Exploration Day
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Brimbank Careers Exploration Day
On 8 May 2024 Future Connect once again hosted the Annual Brimbank Careers Exploration Day at the Lakeside Banquet & Convention Centre located in Taylors Lakes. Just over 1,800 Brimbank secondary school students attended from government and non-government schools and were offered free bussing to attend this careers-based event.
Schools attending in 2024 were:
- Catholic Regional College (North Keilor)
- Copperfield College (Kings Park Campus)
- Copperfield College (Delahey Campus)
- Copperfield College (Sydenham Campus)
- Gilson College
- Marian College
- Overnewton Anglican Community College
- Sirius College
- St Albans Secondary College
- Sunshine College (North Campus)
- Sunshine College (West Campus)
- Taylors Lakes Secondary College
- Victoria University Secondary College
This year the theme was “Interactivity” and it was really pleasing to see the exhibitors bringing along with them games, props, robotic and electrical displays and trades equipment. Students were also given the opportunity to talk to a paramedic, take a tour of an ambulance and check out fire equipment gear from Fire Services Victoria. 81% of students indicated that they enjoyed the various hands-on activities that exhibitors brought to the event.
Feedback from students attending the event indicated that 92% were able to get all or most of the information they needed.
We would like to thank our 2024 Event Partners for their valuable financial support.
Our Aspire Partners: ADF Careers, Brimbank City Council, Swinburne University of Technology and Victoria University
Our Believe Partner: gforce employment & recruitment
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YouthGrounds
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YouthGrounds
2024 was a year of change, growth, and impact for YouthGrounds. We proudly trained 19 young people, achieving a 100% completion rate, with over 60% securing employment or pursuing further education after the program. Check out our YouthGrounds A Year of Impact Snapshot here.
This year, we said farewell to Alice Ames, whose contributions were instrumental in establishing our social enterprise, and in October, we also farewelled Trinity Lu, our dedicated Barista Manager. Following Trinity’s departure, we were fortunate to have Norman Palumbo from Just Planet step in as Acting Barista Manager. Norman not only managed the café but also mentored young people, providing both technical training and invaluable life coaching.
We also welcomed Jonathan Cartwright, a human-centred design professional who quickly became an active force in YouthGrounds, bringing new insights and ideas to the project and the program.
We extend our gratitude to Melton City Council for their continued support, providing the Kurunjang Community Hub site and supporting the training program.
Looking ahead to 2025, YouthGrounds is ready to expand, scaling our reach, deepening our impact, and creating more opportunities for young people. Stay tuned for what’s next!
YouthGrounds: A Year of Impact
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Careers Practitioners' Network (CPN)
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Careers Practitioners' Network (CPN)
This year, we organized four career practitioners’ meetings, bringing together professionals to share ideas, build relationships, and explore ways to enhance career education. These meetings provided a space for collaboration and discussion, allowing attendees to stay informed about industry trends and changes in education and employment.
We utilised new venues, including Kurunjang Community Hub, where attendees had the opportunity to see our YouthGrounds program in action. This gave valuable insight into how our programs support young people in preparing for their futures. Another meeting was held at St Albans Secondary College, expanding our engagement with different schools and creating opportunities for broader discussions about career pathways in education.
A highlight of the year was hearing from new employers like Fulton Hogan, who provided information about careers in infrastructure and construction, as well as education providers such as Carlton College of Sports, who introduced pathways in sports-related studies. These presentations helped career practitioners gain a clearer understanding of the diverse opportunities available to students.
One of our key achievements was working together to bring change to Victoria University, focusing specifically on improving their application process. By sharing feedback and discussing potential improvements, we contributed to making the process more accessible and efficient for students, ensuring they have better support when applying for further education.
We also had the pleasure of welcoming new careers teachers into our network. Their fresh perspectives and enthusiasm added to our discussions, bringing new ideas and energy to our meetings. Throughout the year, we explored various topics, including how to better engage students in career planning, how to address challenges in different industries, and how to improve career guidance in schools.
These meetings were an invaluable opportunity to strengthen our connections, exchange useful information, and work towards improving career education for students. As we reflect on the past year, we appreciate the dedication and contributions of everyone involved. We look forward to continuing these important conversations and building on our progress in the coming year.
Industry School Tours
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Industry School Tours
In 2024, Najib Warsame, Future Connect’s School Industry Project Officer significantly scaled up our industry tours in response to increased interest from schools and our established industry partners, with the goal of providing quality work-based learning activities that meet the needs of local students and industries.
Our thanks to our Industry Partners who have found these tours to be valuable opportunities to share their employment pathways with students, recruit potential future employees, showcase their business practices and promote their work culture while also highlighting the training and skills development they offer. By exposing students to non-traditional pathways into their sectors and encouraging them to apply for entry-level roles, these businesses are investing in the future workforce and providing students with clear career progression opportunities.
Many tours booked out quickly and waiting lists were established. The success of these tours is attributed to targeting industries of interest to young people, based on VET enrolments, surveys, and ongoing communication with careers staff.
It has also been encouraging to see schools outside our LLEN area express interest in our tours, such as Caroline Chisholm Catholic College in the Maribyrnong/Moonee Valley LLEN (MMVLLEN) area, as well Ascot Vale Heights and the Rosamond school.
With many thanks to our Industry Partners listed below for their ongoing support for our young people in the Brimbank/Melton LGA.
- Amazon
- Scalzo Foods
- Food Bank
- Symbio Laboratories
- Melbourne Airport (Women In Aviation tour featuring guest speakers for women interested in various facets of aviation)
- General Laser
- West Gate Tunnel Project (toured their exhibition centre for engineering students, introducing virtual reality experiences to our suite of work-based learning activities)
Schools with whom we have worked with in organizing industry tours in 2024 include:
- Melton Christian College
- The Jackson School
- Springside West Secondary College
- Staughton College
- Gilson College
- Keilor Downs College
- Hester Hornbrook Academy
- Southern Cross Grammar
- Melton CaLM School
- St Albans Secondary College
- Bacchus Marsh Grammar (Woodlea)
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Realise Your Potential
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Realise Your Potential
Throughout 2024, Future Connect worked on a series of informative videos to assist neurodivergent young people in preparation for job searches.
Realise Your Potential is a co-design project by Future Connect that encourages and empowers young people in their career journeys. Through collaboration, the videos were designed by neurodiverse young people for neurodiverse young people. These resources provide practical advice and tips to help navigate key aspects of job applications.
These Future Connect activities and roles were also supported by a grant from Brimbank Council.
The three video topics included:
- Writing a Resume:
To assist in putting together a resume (for many young people for the first time), in this video, we broke down the essential components of a how to create an impactful resume, including structure, important details to include and common mistakes to avoid.
Watch here: Realise Your Potential: Resume Writing Tips - Resume References:
Selecting the best and most appropriate references can make all the difference in your job application process. This video explains what makes a great reference, how to ask someone to be your reference and the dos and don’ts of including references in your application.
Watch here: Realise Your Potential: Resume References - Cover Letter:
A cover letter is the opportunity to show why you’re the perfect fit for a role. This video offers practical advice on structuring a cover letter, tailoring it to the job, and avoiding common pitfalls.
Watch here: Realise Your Potential: Cover Letter - Co-design group members
- These were core members who have stayed in touch since the start of the project, including representation from:
- Ellen Gould
- Ciri Staneck
- Jazzy (Jasmine Gee)
- Bec (Rebecca Baker)
- Kade Cini
- ICanNetwork
- Aspergers Vic
- Supported by key members of the Future Connect team and our animator Ahalya.
- These were core members who have stayed in touch since the start of the project, including representation from:
- The co-design and collaboration process included:
-
- Storyboarding by our young animator
- The co-design group reviewing the storyboard (via email)
- Producing a revised storyboard
- Production and publication
The three videos were then published on YouTube via our Future Connect channel and through our social media channels, including email signature to drive awareness and visibility.
In addition to the videos, we provided additional resources for those young people ready to take the next step in their career journey. The Top Tip Sheets were available for download via our website for additional advice, practical templates, and helpful checklists.
It was exciting to see the videos published, and to see that they provided a valuable job searching and resume resource for young people in 2024 and into the future.
SBAT Breakfast 2024
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SBAT Breakfast 2024
The 2024 Future Connect SBAT Breakfast was held on Thursday 5 of September in the ballroom at WestWaters Hotel & Entertainment Complex in Caroline Springs. It was a great venue for careers practitioners, SBAT providers and our special speakers to get together to discuss everything SBAT! It was so good to see everyone, this feeling was shared with all who attended.
It was an early start for everyone with the breakfast starting at 7:30am, but this did not hamper the excitement of those attending. Everyone was happy to be at the event and learn more about the world of SBATs.
Deirdre Hardy, CEO of Future Connect, acknowledged the work of the SBAT Advisory Group over the past twelve months who helped to shape and guide the structure and outcomes of the event. This group includes school representatives, providers and AASNs:
- Cathy Armstrong (St Albans Secondary College)
- Evan Henry (NextGen Jobs)
- Chris Coleman (VACC)
- Julie Pilioglou (Caroline Chisholm Catholic College)
- Sarah Keogh (Hester Hornbrook Academy)
- Kathryn Hughes (MEGT)
- Peter Venables and Stuart Gillespie (Integrity Business Solutions)
- Joanne Galea (Melton Secondary College)
- Katerina Crichton (Gilson College)
- Lucy Taylor (Kurunjang Secondary College)
- Melissa Bell (Head Start-North West Hub)
The event started with an insightful on-line presentation/update from Ben Fitzgerald, Project Manager from the VCAA. Ben’s talk shed light on Vocational Education and Training (VET), emphasising its significance in shaping students’ career paths. It was a valuable session that broadened our understanding of VET’s potential for our students.
Following the presentation from Ben we heard from Natasha Allan who is completing an SBAT with Leisure Employment Australia. Natasha was joined by Margaret Zerafa from Leisure Employment Australia. Attendees had the chance to ask questions about Natasha’s SBAT experiences, gaining valuable real-world perspectives on the program’s impact. It was an inspiring and informative session that showed the students’ educational and career journey. Attendees at the Breakfast also enjoyed listening to Caden Harte, Learning and Development-Business Partners from The Winslow Group who shared a success story related to the SBAT program. Caden’s talk highlighted the benefits and impact of SBATs on both the students and the business, providing insights into the real-world application and outcomes of the program.
After enjoying a delicious buffet breakfast, the event built further momentum through a networking round-robin session where teachers and SBAT providers could connect, collaborate, share knowledge, and access opportunities for their students. The networking session nurtured young people’s talents through a shared collaboration by engaging in fruitful discussions with SBAT providers. These interactions established stronger partnerships to empower students with real-world skills and experiences. School representatives rotated through each of the SBAT providers, to hear all about what is on offer for 2024 and how students can take up the opportunities. Providers who attended the breakfast were:
- Department of Education – Head Start (North West Hub)
- The Winslow Group
- Integrity Business College
- Leisure Employment Australia
- MEGT
- VACC
- EVT Group
- Busy At Work TAC
- Head Start
Feedback from the schools who attended were positive with 70% of school staff attending indicating that their knowledge about SBATs had been improved and 80% indicated that the event had exceeded their expectations.
VET Taster Day 2024
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VET Taster Day
Our annual VET Taster Day was a great success! A total of 262 students from 11 schools took part in an exciting and informative experience. The event was held at Catholic Regional College Sydenham and AGA Trade School, where students explored different Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses.
The goal of the VET Taster Day is to help students learn more about their course options before they enrol. This helps reduce the chances of students wanting to change courses later. We are happy to report that the day achieved its goal, with students feeling more confident about their choices.
Morning Session at Catholic Regional College Sydenham
The day kicked off at Catholic Regional College Sydenham, where students were introduced to a broad range of VET course options. This session allowed students to explore career pathways, including; hospitality, health services, creative industries, beauty and more. The visit provided an excellent overview of the VET courses available and helped students consider which areas might be the best fit for their future.
Afternoon Tour at AGA Trade School
After lunch, students travelled to AGA Trade School for an in-depth look at trade-based VET courses. This session focused on areas such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and automotive trades. Students had the opportunity to see workshops in action, interact with instructors, and even try some basic trade skills. For many students, this was an eye-opening experience, giving them a clearer understanding of what a career in the trades could look like.
Of course, no event is complete without a little adventure! The buses gave us a bit of a challenge, taking a route of their own (maybe they were trying out a transport and logistics course!). But in the end, everyone made it safely to their destinations and back.
A big thank you to the schools, staff, and students who participated with such enthusiasm. Special thanks to Catholic Regional College Sydenham and AGA Trade School for hosting and providing such a valuable experience.
We look forward to running this event again next year and helping even more students make informed decisions about their future!
Structured Workplace Learning
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Structured Workplace Learning
This year, our Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) program has provided students with valuable real-world experiences in many different industries. We are proud to share that we facilitated 218 student work placements, which included School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs), work experience, and other workplace learning opportunities.
A large number of these 218 placements were in our most popular VET courses: building and construction, agriculture, business, and hospitality.
Throughout the year we worked hard to engage with new employers in these industries. We were able to build strong relationships with nine new employers, expanding the range of opportunities for students. By working with more employers, we have been able to offer a wider variety of placements, allowing students to experience different work environments and industries.
This year, we also focused on creating more group work placements, where students were able to go out as a small group and complete their work placement requirements. These have again proven to be a great alternative to those students that felt more comfortable with their peers as well as schools who were requiring a class placement across a shorter period of time. These placements helped students develop teamwork skills, problem-solving abilities, and better communication. We worked with great partners such as Western Health, Westvale Community Gardens, and The Equine Effect, who provided students with meaningful work that also greatly assisted within their businesses.
A special highlight in Term 3 was our collaboration with The Centre for Disability Employment Research and Practice and Melton Specialist School on the "Glide In" project. This project gave students the chance to explore different workplaces throughout the program, exposing them to a range of industries. Along with workplace visits, students attended theory sessions at the Taylors Hill Youth & Community Centre, which gave them valuable skills and insights for their future careers.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are planning to keep building on this success. We hope to partner with even more employers to create more opportunities for students. Our goal is to continue expanding the SWL program so that more students can gain real-world experience and develop the skills they need to succeed.
Work Readiness
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Work Readiness
Hockey Victoria, Young Workers Centre, the Skills and Jobs Centre, MEGT and Kangan all participated in Work Readiness sessions at Springside West Secondary School while Guest speaker presentations were held at The Jackson School and Staughton College.
Real Industry Job Interviews (RIJI) focusing on resume writing and interview skills were organised for The Jackson School. Future Connect also initiated discussions with Western Health Hospital for future work-based learning activities and are building relationships with QV Hotel, Rydges Hotel, and The Winslow Group to plan workplace learning activities for 2025.
Virtual Reality (VR) Workshops
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Virtual Reality (VR) Workshops
In 2024, Future Connect expanded its repertoire of school-related events and activities by introducing innovative work readiness programs by making Virtual Reality (VR) headsets and virtual work simulations available to schools, offering students an immersive look into various industries.
Future Connects VR experiences allow students to explore various sectors, from warehousing and logistics to health and community services. Through these simulations, students can gain valuable insights into the day-to-day operations of different industries, all in the comfortable and familiar environment of their classrooms. This innovative approach engages students in new and exciting ways and helps them make informed decisions about their future careers.
The reception from schools has been overwhelmingly positive. Educators have not only embraced but also praised the VR programs for bringing real-world experiences into the classroom. These programs give students a unique opportunity to explore career paths they might not have considered otherwise, bridging the gap between education and employment. This equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in an ever-evolving job market. With the successful integration of VR headsets into their work readiness programs, students can be prepared for the challenges and opportunities that await them.
Forget Me Not
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Forget Me Not
During 2024, Future Connect progressed is usability and content for the Forget Me Not application.
Forget Me Not is an online platform, that provides opportunities for short but regular ongoing micro-learning, to reinforce activities or theories undertaken by young people that day or week. Forget Me Not stands at the forefront of revolutionising workplace education in Australia. This is rooted in a deep commitment to enhancing the quality of learning experiences, driven by innovative technology and cutting-edge design. Forget Me Not envisions a world where continuous learning culture thrives, surpassing the limitations of traditional online and classroom training.
Future Connect’s work in this space was supported by our involvement with Pathways in Place (PiPAN), which seeks to improve population health outcomes through the development of theory, methods, and evidence to support place-based, systems change approaches. You can read more about the approach here.
In 2024, our focus was on identifying topics and content best relevant to micro-learning and reinforcement for young people, and to author and publish new content. This also involved expanding our reach and usage of the app.
Core activities included:
- Developing a knowledge base of soft skills, and existing training and/or resources on soft skills from within PiPAN and broader networks; and
- Providing information and knowledge / experiences and insight to build knowledge base. Explore feasibility/options for integrating soft-skills content into Forget Me Not app.
We also reviewed how we would be able to integrate this into our YouthGrounds training program, and developed specific content suitable to this topic, including food safety and handling.
This form of micro-learning is evidence based and proven to support young people in the transition into the workplace, education of further training.
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Department of Education (DE) VET Transport Fund
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Department of Education (DE) VET Transport Fund
In late 2023, DE announced that Future Connect had been successful in obtaining funding in 2024 to assist students in both Brimbank and Melton who might require transport assistance in order for them to attend their VET course. Future Connect would coordinate this funding.
After receiving feedback from schools and other sources, it was decided that students travelling to AGA in Deer Park were most in need of assistance due to AGA’s location. Although train travel was available the unreliability of the service, and the location of the nearest station meant that students were often late to class.
Kinetic bus lines were chosen as the preferred bus provider and the following bus runs were established:
- Tuesday AM & Thursday AM bus services from Watergardens Shopping Centre, via St Albans Train Station to AGA Deer Park
- Wednesday AM & Wednesday PM bus services from Melton Secondary College to AGA Deer Park
Throughout 2024, 720 students used the free DE bus service to travel to their VET classes at AGA.
Future Connect Financials 2024
