Connecting people with employment
The Community Employment Connectors program provides culturally responsive and individualised support to help job seekers navigate and connect with employment and training.
This program is open to:
- young people aged 16-25 from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds who face barriers to employment and training pathways
- adults from CALD backgrounds who face barriers to securing sustainable employment.
We deliver the Community Employment Connectors program within the City of Greater Dandenong and City of Casey, regions that are well known for their rich cultural and linguistic diversity. These regions are also highly disadvantaged with high unemployment rates, especially for young people.
SECL and our partner, Wellsprings for Women, have established and chaired the Community Employment Connector Community of Practice sharing learnings, achievements, challenges and ideas across Victoria. The Community of Practice meets monthly in a virtual meeting with 11 organisations.
Safia creates a better future
Safia was in a critical situation when she approached SECL, disclosing financial and emotional abuse by multiple perpetrators including her husband’s family. With no income, limited English and a lack of digital literacy, Safia could not secure a job to support her and her daughter. She also had no access to alternative housing and worried greatly for her daughter’s wellbeing.
The SECL Employment Connector met with Safia and developed a strong rapport, creating a safe space to share her story and be appropriately linked with specialist family violence support. They developed an employment plan which prioritised English language skills and digital literacy. Safia was supported with job search activities and gained employment at a chocolate factory. She continues to receive support to maintain her employment, as well as other support services.
“If I want my child to have a better future than mine, I couldn’t do this without changing and improving my own life first,” says Safia.
The Community Employment Connectors program is funded by the Victorian Government and run in collaboration with the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR).
