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BTG BULLETIN | Christmas 2012 Issue 2 1

BTG Bulletin

BTG Bulletin

Christmas 2012 Edition

B

ABOVE: Eyes on the prize; a Bridging the Gap client restores and customises recycled bike parts. IN THIS ISSUE

Ten young Bridging the Gap clients participating in Dismantle’s Bike Rescue Project have generously donated their restored bikes to the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Dismantle, with the support of the Department of Education, has allowed Bridging the Gap’s Youth Connections clients the opportunity to work alongside a bike mechanic across a ten week period.

During this time, our clients have recycled twenty old bikes with each participant donating one bike to charity which then ‘earns’ them the opportunity to restore, customise and keep a bike of their own.

Bridging the Gap’s Head of Youth Linda Colley says the aim of the Dismantle project is to capture the imagination of young people who are disengaged from education.

“The Dismantle initiative places emphasis on the holistic development of our clients and really caters for the different ways in which young people learn,” she says.

“The collaboration between Bridging the Gap’s Youth Connections and Dismantle gives us a strong vehicle to engage youth who may not otherwise be able to find a program which meets their specific needs.”

The Dismantle project, which currently runs twice a week, also included a Bridging the Gap devised coaching program that covered topics such health, drug and alcohol awareness and encouraged participants to set goals for the future and create vision boards.

Joel Woods from the Department of Education says Dismantle, in combination with the coaching program offered by Bridging the Gap, empowers participants and provides facilitation into future education, training or employment pathways.

“The Department of Education recognises that partnerships with local organisations such as Dismantle and Bridging the Gap are valuable in delivering comprehensive and supportive programs to our vulnerable youth,” he says.

“We [The Department of Education] are continually seeking innovative education and training programs to engage youth at risk who have disengaged from school.”

If you would like further information on Dismantle’s Bike Rescue Project please visit dismantle.org.au.

BTG gets Intergenerational

In a joint initiative with the City of Rockingham, Bridging the Gap has launched a photography project that promotes intergenerational connections.

More on Page 2

The Scape of Things to Come

Ngulla Community Nursery will be launching an exciting new social enterprise project in 2013 that aims to up skill youth and job seekers to be work ready.

More on Page 2

What’s the HYPE?

Graduates of Bridging the Gap’s Helping Young Parents into Education Program graduate with stellar results.

More on Page 3

DISMANTLE-ing Youth Connections

RIGHT: Bridging the Gap’s Lucy Maradik and Karen Pavlovic with the Dismantle Bike Rescue Team.

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BTG BULLETIN | Christmas 2012 Issue 2 2

ABOVE: BTG’s Rob Bray joins the Footprints team at Gary Holland Centre.

The creative expressions of the Footprints photography project were launched at the Gary Holland Centre at a free exhibition on October 26.

Footprints is a joint initiative between Bridging the Gap and the City of Rockingham aimed at creating intergenerational connections with seniors and youth centred in and around the Rockingham area.

Bridging the Gap’s Robert Bray said the program, which took place across a five week period, engaged youth aged between 14 and 24 and seniors aged 55 and over in a ‘unsafe’ to ‘safe’ project.

“The groups were first educated by Coffee Photography before being paired up to visit a variety of locations they had chosen around the community,” he said.

“They took photographs of areas that they believed could be made safer.”

The program then guided participants to analyse their pictures, using an overlay, and design a new outlook that would make the

area safer.

Footprints participant, Chris Payne (19), said working with the seniors and brainstorming ways in which they could make areas of Rockingham safer was an interesting experience.

“We actually worked really well together,” he said.

“There was great interaction between all of the young people and seniors involved.”

Bridging the Gap’s Special Projects Coordinator Caroline Marshall said Footprints is a great project that not only encourages intergenerational relationships but contributes to making Rockingham a

safer place.

“We’re very proud to be a part of this,” she said.

“Together, they’ve developed some fantastic ideas on how we can improve safety in our community.”

Youth Connections programs are proudly supported by the Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations.

Bridging the Gap’s own Peter Bird has received masses of praise from a Conservation and Wildlife specialist at Perth Zoo.

Sean Renner volunteered at Ngulla Community Nursery in 2009 following a work related motorbike injury that meant he struggled to find work.

Mr Renner says he helped out around the nursery at a time when he had lost a lot of self-confidence, particularly in a work environment, and is extremely grateful for the guidance given by nursery manager, Peter Bird.

“I’ve almost finished a degree in Conservation and Wildlife Biology and have been working as a Zookeeper at Perth Zoo for the last six months,” he says.

“I feel like his [Peter’s] influence and the education I received at Ngulla strongly encouraged me to undertake study in this field initially and subsequently initiated my pathway into what has now become a dream career.”

Driven by a social purpose and dedicated to providing a unique, community-based working and training environment for disadvantaged people; Ngulla was established in 2006 as an innovative horticultural-based social enterprise project.

Ngulla cultivates native plants and on sells them thereby generating employment and workplace training opportunities for local youth, job seekers and the general community.

Ngulla is also in the early stages of commencing a new landscape implementation and maintenance enterprise

with a focus on building native, water wise habitats appropriate for the swan coastal plain.

Nursery manager, Peter Bird, says at present the landscaping enterprise has begun work for private developments.

“Our goal is to obtain asset management as part of our program which basically means obtaining contract work for garden maintenance for commercial businesses,” he says.

“We want to be able to give young people and jobseekers hands-on training that will develop them into being work ready.”

If you would like further information on the Ngulla Landscapes Social Enterprise please contact: Peter Bird 0411 366 385 or peter.bird@ngullacommunitynursery.com.au.

Perth Zoo Praise for Ngulla Community Nursery

Footprints Charming

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BTG BULLETIN | Christmas 2012 Issue 2 3

LEFT: Mayor Carol Adams (Kwinana) with Bridging the Gap’s Bec Reddick and HYPE participant Kirsty Fowler and son.

BTG NEWS BITES

BTG Relay for Life in 2013

Bridging the Gap are proud to be organising a team to participate in the first ever Relay for Life event in Rockingham/Kwinana on the 13

th & 14

th

of April at the Larkhill Sports Complex.

The “Shakers and Bakers” team aims to raise at least $1000 to support the Cancer Council and need your help to achieve success in this fantastic 24-hour walk-for-charity event. \

New team members are welcome to join us for all or part of the event, and donations are gratefully accepted.

To join or donate visit:

http://tinyurl.com/btgrelay

Appreciation for JSA JSA have been awarded with a certificate of appreciation from the Department of Human Services (Centrelink) in recognition of the commitment, time and assistance to our mutual clients across the past 12 months.

Expertise in Mediation

BTG would like to congratulate staff member Steve Pitcher who successfully completed the Perth Mediation Workshop in November.

Graduating is special. It marks the completion of one chapter in life and the start of another. It is also a time to receive recognition for your success and hard work.

The graduates of Bridging the Gap’s HYPE (Helping Young Parents into Education) program know the notion of ‘hard work’ all too well. These young people are aged between 14 and 20 and have been disengaged from education after struggling to find affordable care for their young families.

Bridging the Gap’s HYPE caseworker Bec Reddick says the a lot of participants fell pregnant midway through high school and were left disengaged from education.

“Juggling a young child and studying is hard enough, let alone making the tough decision to put your child into day care … if you can afford it,” she says.

“That’s what is so unique about our HYPE program. We help young parents re-engage in education by providing a free on-site crèche at Gilmore College that is staffed by Meerilinga.”

“It allows our young mums to be anxiety free as they pursue their education.”

Jaarn Bayens (20) enrolled in HYPE in early 2012 with the hopes of achieving her year 12 equivalent.

“I originally left school after my first pregnancy,” she says.

“I joined the HYPE program while I was pregnant with my second child and I’m really proud to say that I’ve now completed my Certificate II in General Education.”

“There is no way I would have been able to do this without the support of Bec [Reddick].”

Kirsty Fowler (20) agrees.

“Having the support of my case worker, Bec, has really made this a lot easier,” she says.

“She’s such a supportive person and when you feel like giving up, she’s always there.”

After receiving high commendations from her teacher, Jaarn hopes to go on to study nursing and Kristy, accounting.

Both girls say that HYPE has allowed them to grow their employability skills and meet other teen parents in the same situation.

“I’m extremely thankful for this opportunity,” Jaarn says.

Bec, on behalf of Bridging the Gap, also received extremely high praise from Mayor Carol Adams of Kwinana who attended the graduation to personally congratulate each of the girls.

The HYPE program is proudly supported by: The Department of Human Services, Better Futures Local Solutions, Bridging the Gap, Challenger, Gilmore College, KEYS, Meerilinga, The Smith Family and SMYL.

HYPE for Bridging the Gap

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BTG BULLETIN | Christmas 2012 Issue 2 4

BTG Embraces the Freak Factor

Are you too loud? Too quiet? Too organised? Too messy? Well you’re not alone and you should embrace what makes you special!

Discover your uniqueness and flaunt your weakness in 2013 as BTB brings world renowned speaker, comedian, author and leadership professor, David Rendall, to Perth for two days in April.

In these funny counter-intuitive talks you'll discover how to find success and improve your performance by discovering your strengths and weaknesses, frame your unique characteristics in a positive way; find situations that highlight your positive qualities and flaunt your failings!

As a boy, David was told he’d never amount to anything because he couldn’t sit still, he was a terrible listener, and he wouldn’t stop talking. He listened to the criticism, did his best to sit still, stop talking and listen, and studied counselling psychology. The result?

He was unhappy, unsuccessful and never worked as a counselor

So David started the Freak Factory, realising that his supposed flaws were actually strengths.

Now he’s standing up and talking for a living, and he’s spoken to over 200 organisations large and small in the last couple of years about how to get the most out of yourself.

Following on from his incredibly popular Australian tour in 2012, Bridging the Gap, the Department of Education, Murdoch University and the CCIWA/SMYL Partnership Broker are pleased to present David's return to Perth in April 2013.

Don't miss this exciting and inspiring seminar for employers, education and training providers, youth organisations and parent groups.

ABOVE RIGHT: Self-confessed Freak David Rendall joins us for two exciting presentations, with a FREE Session for Students!

David Rendall in Perth, 2013

DATES: Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd April 2013

TIME: 10.00am – 2.00pm (lunch: 12.30pm – 1.00pm)

VENUE: Koorliny Arts Centre Gilmore Avenue Kwinana WA 6167

COST: $80 (includes free book and DVD) or FREE for students (Wednesday session only)

To book visit

www.david-rendall-perth.eventbrite.com

Message from the CEO

2012 has been one-of-a-kind for many reasons and Bridging the Gap have enjoyed a number of successes and challenges throughout the year. It is of no doubt that working together as a team has ensured we surmounted those challenges and achieved success.

Helen Keller once said: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much,” and its with this in mind that I sincerely thank each and every one of you, without exception, for your individual efforts, support and commitment to our organisation. Without the contributions you make, Bridging the Gap would not be where it is today.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish you, your staff and family a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of new years.

We are pleased to leave you with an early edition of our e-newsletter, the BTG Bulletin, and look forward to your continued support in 2013.

Colin Kerr Chief Executive Officer