Wanted: More work opportunities for region’s Aboriginal people
DUBBO is well served by the Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES), an organisation that’s quietly changing lives by providing opportunities supported by ongoing mentoring.
And those individual outcomes are collectively adding up to plenty when it comes to making Dubbo a better place to live, with all the research showing that when people have fulfilling and rewarding lives, they’re able to more positively contribute to the wider society.
AES Career Recruitment Officer Ann-maree Chandler says the organisation would like to see more employers trusting the organisation to provide good, solid, long-term candidates for their employment options.
With the dust settling on Higher School Certificate results, school leavers are now faced with the daunting task of what to do with the rest of their lives. NATALIE HOLMES asked headspace community and youth engagement coordinator Amy Mines for the best approach to life after Year 12.
WHAT kind of challenges do young people face after their Year 12 exams?
School leavers face the daunting question as they hang up their school bags for the last time, “What do you want to do for the rest of your life and where do you see yourself working?”
Such a big question to answer and it isn’t one that they are expected to know. It’s all trial and error with managing work and study options.
It is also a big period of adjustment, coming out of routine such as school and study – the challenges in day to day lifestyle can be difficult to get used to.
Keeping yourself busy and pursuing other interests can help without adding any unnecessary pressure or strain whilst you take some time to consider your options and seek advice.
How does this impact on their emotional wellbeing?
It’s important to acknowledge that you may not get the marks you wanted. However, this isn’t your only option to excelling in life. There are so many different pathways to access studying or employment. And if Plan A doesn’t work – there is always a Plan B.
What signs are there that indicate if something isn’t right?
You may feel deflated, low in your mood, unmotivated, not socialising or sleeping a lot. Everybody reacts differently to stress and pressure. However, there are simple tools you can use before things spiral out of control. The sooner you or a loved one recognise the signs, the easier it will be to manage.
As for the tools, our Youth Care Coordinators can assist with these. We also offer workshops on various topics which are frequently advertised on our social media platforms.
What kind of plan can they implement to alleviate any possible issues from arising?
Implement strategies for self-care like putting the phone down and time off technology. Take some time out to switch off like going for a walk, walking the dog, cooking a meal, catching up with a friend in person or reading.
If some or all of these things seem foreign or are just not helping, a Youth Care Coordinator can also help work through strategies to alleviate what might be happening and provide tools for your toolkit to utilise later on – at university, in the workplace, or with new relationships.
There are also many in-kind support services that visit headspace regularly such as Centrelink, financial counselling and legal support services who can assist with information on benefits, managing finances and paying off fines. There are also pathways to consultants from university and TAFE.
What can headspace do to ease the transition from school into the next stage of their lives?
The Individual Placement Support program at headspace can provide assistance with resume writing, interview skills, support and guidance for employment with unlimited ongoing support both before and after employment. You don’t already have to be a client of headspace to seek assistance, and you can self-refer.
What can families do to support this shift?
Families can be supportive of their young person and give them support and space to navigate this path, encouraging their young person to talk about their concerns, but also understanding that they may not know how to do that as they have just entered a completely new and unfounded space.
If families are struggling to know how to best support their young person, they can seek advice with services such as Catholiccare Wilcannia-forbes who offer Parent/ Carer Support Groups or one-on-one appointments, either at their office, or in the headspace centre.
There are also some fantastic resources and webinars online at headspace.org.au.
Over the holiday period, if you have concerns, you can also use the online counselling service headspace.org.au/e headspace or call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.