Facilitated by Yarra Youth Services, four trainees have participated in a 20-week program working in our Libraries, Community Partnerships teams and the Connie Benn Centre Kitchen.
The program is making a real difference in removing barriers for young people to access training and employment with their local council.
Get to know two of our participants in this year's program, who have since secured paid casual employment with Council through their learning and hard work.
Leyan: Fitzroy Library
Collingwood's Leyan, 19, is originally from Eritrea and moved to Australia when she was nine years old. She's currently studying for a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at La Trobe University.
She worked as a library officer based at Fitzroy Library and provided key support in several areas, particularly our Library in Homes program. The service sees staff deliver and return books to residents who find it difficult to visit our libraries in person.
"There's just so much to learn in the library," Leyan said. "I feel it's underestimated and there's a lot of programs and a lot of things to do, which I really liked. I didn't know there was a lot of transport and facilities that we provide, so just working there and seeing other people use it really opened my eyes."
Leyan is now continuing as a casual library officer working across our five sites in Yarra.
Luul: Connie Benn Centre Kitchen
Richmond's Luul, 22, is originally from Somalia and moved to Australia when she was 12 years old.
Luul has a background in hospitality and further developed her skills as a kitchen hand at our Connie Benn Centre in Fitzroy, preparing and cooking meals for childcare and kinder students. Her specialty dishes included broccoli tarts and lasagna muffins. She said her experience consolidated for her "the basic understanding of what a kitchen hand does."
"What made it different was I was dealing with children, and things were a bit more sophisticated in terms of dealing with dietary requirements. You have to be the responsible one that is constantly worried that you're not making an error."
Luul credits the Yarra Youth Services team for supporting her from a young age to get her to where she is today. "I was part of a lot of youth programs and some of the staff have known me since I arrived here. And if it wasn't for Yarra, not just this program but helping me with a lot of behind the scenes, personal life and career stuff, it wouldn't have been possible."
