Our Partnerships and Networks

ReTale Melbourne

The ReTale Melbourne program is a partnership initiative of the City LLEN and was established in 2008. Together with the Victoria Police, the Centre for Adult Education, the Salvation Army and City of Melbourne a tailored program for disadvantaged young people provides mentoring, challenge activities, accredited training and personal support to assist young people gain the skills, confidence and experience to obtain ongoing employment.

The program was launched by then Minister for Education, the Hon. Minister Bronwyn Pike who was joined by Dave Hughes, comedian and media personality who was the patron of the program, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, John So and the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Christine Nixon.

The program runs for 12 weeks and includes career guidance, work experience and literacy and numeracy assistance.

ReTale Melbourne was also supported by Melbourne City Mission, Crown Casino, the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) and ANZ Trustees. Contact the CAE on 03 9652 0840
or visit: www.cae.edu.au

Evolution

The Evolution program was the result of a partnership brokered by the Capital City LLEN to re-engage homeless and at risk of homelessness young people accessing services in the City of Melbourne. Using art as a transition tool and providing intensive counselling and pathway support, participants receive the guidance and encouragement needed to move on with their lives in a constructive manner. Evolution is delivered in the City of Melbourne's Signal art space on the banks of the Yarra. Contact: Frontyard on 03 9611 2444.

Opportunities for Carlton

In partnership with key stakeholders in the Carlton area, including Carlton Primary School, Drummond St Services, AMES, Carlton Church of All Nations, the University of Melbourne, the City LLEN is part of the City of Melbourne's Opportunity for Carlton initiative. Funded by both the Department of Planning and Community Development and the City of Melbourne, a network has been established to enhance community capacity and social cohesion in the Carlton community. The LLEN is a member of the Work and Learning group focusing on those initiatives that directly impact the retention, engagement and transitions of young people as if relevant, parents and families. Our work for this network has included:

• Employer Roundtable. With guest speakers including, the Hon. Lindsay Tanner and Hon. Richard Wynne, employers, community groups and unions workshopped and discussed strategies for the training and employment of public housing tenants and other disadvantaged groups. This event led to several partnerships that provided apprenticeships for young people from Horn of African communities within the flats
• Family Literacy and Numeracy Project - an initiative developed to enhance the literacy and IT skills of parents of Carlton Primary School children (97% of families are of Horn of African refugee origin) to enhance parent engagement in student literacy and enhance student transition to secondary school
• Digital Carlton Project now known as the Carlton Online-Opportunity and Learning (COOL) provides young people and parents and families residing in public housing access, skill development, community participation and learning opportunities to ensure residents bridge the digital divide. In doing so parents and young people will be able to equip themselves with the IT access and skills required of contemporary secondary school students. This will further enhance their engagement in school.

North Melbourne Community Initiatives

A number of smaller community initiatives that support at risk young people in North Melbourne have been organised by the City LLEN, some examples include:

• In partnership with the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner a careers and transition evening was held with high profile African community guest speakers to encourage young African secondary students to stay in school and aim high as well as understand the varied education and training pathways that are available to them
• In partnership with the Inner Melbourne VET Cluster, the YMCA and Swinburne TAFE's First Stop program a forum was held for youth workers, counsellors and other service providers in the North Melbourne area to train the workers in education pathway and careers transitions so that they can best assist and address the education and training needs of their young clients.