Five Sydney hotels have signed up to an innovative pilot to help young people at risk of long-term unemployment into sustainable jobs in the hospitality industry.
Part of the Industry Employment Initiative (IEI), the program is collaboration between Social Ventures Australia (SVA), Jesuit Social Services and MAX Employment. It is a demand-led model that works with employers to understand their skill needs and vacancies, and then works backwards to design a training pathway to support potential candidates into those roles.
The program has successfully placed candidates in hospitality, retail and childcare roles in Melbourne, Brisbane and Darwin to date, and the collaboration between the Sydney hotels marks the expansion of the program to NSW.
The hotels participating are Radisson Blu Sydney, Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney, Swissotel Sydney, Courtyard by Marriott North Ryde Sydney, and Holiday Inn Darling Harbour. Each hotel helped design the program, and participated in workshops where operational staff were briefed on the program and equipped to support the incoming young people.
Following two weeks of pre-vocational training and one week of work experience at the hotels, 5 IEI participants have already been offered ongoing employment in food and beverage, kitchen, stewarding, housekeeping and front office roles.
IEI Project Manager Carlita Bevege said it was fantastic to see hotels collaborating to offer training and jobs that will be life changing for many of the individuals in the program.
“The IEI is designed to provide both job seekers and employers with the tools they need to establish a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship. For many young people, finding an employer who is willing to give them a go and provide support as they make the transition into work can make a world of difference.”
“Jesuit Social Services is thrilled to be part of an innovative initiative that genuinely changes lives while tackling an important societal issue in youth unemployment,” says Jesuit Social Services CEO Julie Edwards.
“We have a long history of working with young people who face multiple barriers to employment including not having completed school, mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness. This initiative equips young people with the skills and confidence they need to work and helps them take the first step to reaching their potential and making their contribution to the broader society.”
MAX Employment Managing Director Deborah Homewood said they were thrilled to be a part of the initiative and support so many young job seekers into employment.
“Youth unemployment is such a strong indicator for the future health of the country. We work closely with our partners to ensure every young job seeker has the chance to turn their lives around, no matter what their history.
“This initiative is a wonderful collaborative effort and will make a real difference to young lives,” Ms Homewood said.
