Job Club
Many of our clients at Fitzroy Learning Network
experience a range of significant barriers when seeking
employment. Barriers include limited spoken/written
English skills, low literacy/numeracy in first languages,
little or no experience of an Australian workplace and a
limited professional network.
Breaking Down Barriers
In 2012 five of our FLN students have been busy
building up professional networks with local
community organisations. The Breaking Down
Barriers program encourages its participants to
develop attainable employment goals, develop relevant
community contacts and learn about a variety of
workplaces through weekly volunteer work. This
year, CERES, the Fitzroy Toy Library and Sacred
Heart Primary School have welcomed our students
into their workplaces. Some of the duties performed
by our students have included administration tasks,
customer service, classroom support and gardening. A
commitment to learning English is a major focus of this
program- we recognise that English is a major barrier
to finding employment in Australia.
14
FLN student volunteers learnt about customer
service and promotions at the Fitzroy Toy Library
Case Study 1
F entered the Breaking Down Barriers
program this year. Her employment goal
is to work in childcare services. F has
worked hard towards achieving this – she
not only attends her daily FLN English
class but has also completed most of
a Certificate III in Childcare Services –
Family Day Care. F has also attended
additional English conversation classes
for two terms. She completed a volunteer
placement at Sacred Heart Primary School
during term 2 and volunteered at the
Fitzroy Toy Library in term 3. Feedback
from these organisations has been
very positive. The Toy Library is keen to
continue a connection with F, assisting
her to broaden her professional network.
Fitzroy Learning Network Annual Report 2011/12