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Case study 4 Advancing Country Towns

Sources: Benalla Rural City Council, Advancing Country Towns Program Benalla Project Plan (Benalla Rural City Council, 2012); Benalla Rural City Council, Advancing Country Towns Initiative Proposal V7 (Job Readiness and Aspirations) (Benalla Rural City Council, undated); Telephone Conversation with Judy Jeffrey of Regional Development Victoria, 19 April 2013; E-mail from RDV to KPMG, 7 May 2013.





Case study 5 Expanded Pathways, Improved Transitions

Sources: Geelong Regional Local Learning and Employment Network, LLEN Annual Report 2010 Case Study (Geelong Regional Local Learning and Employment Network, 2010); Smart Geelong Regional Local Learning and Employment Network, The Post-Compulsory Change Project (Smart Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network, 2009); E-mail correspondence from Shanti Wong to KPMG, 12 April 2013.





Case study 6 Gateways 4 Sustainable Communities

Source: RMCG, Northern District Community Health Services: Gateways 4 Sustainable Communities Case study and project analysis (Final Report) (RMCG, 2011).







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Program drivers

Program drivers and identified problems

Benalla was selected by the Victorian Government as an appropriate location for the Advancing Country Towns program due to the disproportionate levels of entrenched and complex disadvantage. In the context of educational engagement and workforce participation, statistics drawn from census data demonstrate that there are gaps in education and training for people with significant barriers to learning and employment. These gaps consist of basic employability skills - literacy, numeracy and low level qualifications, for example:

> only 34 per cent of people aged 15-24 years in Benalla have completed Year 12 or equivalent;

> there are significant numbers of unemployed or under-employed young people in Benalla, with 14 per cent of people aged 15-19 years being unemployed, and 9.6 per cent of people aged 20-24 years; and

> 21 per cent of the Benalla population aged 20-24 years is not fully engaged (i.e. neither studying nor working).

In addition to these findings, annual employer surveys administered by DEEWR were referenced and noted that the expectations of local employers were not aligned with the expectations of people seeking employment and their appropriate level of job readiness.

Evidence for program selection

The Advancing Country Towns approach was selected following an understanding that previous single portfolio responses were unable to address the complex and entrenched problems within the Benalla community. An Investment Logic Mapping process was undertaken with key stakeholders from the Benalla area, the Department of Planning and Community Development, Regional Development Victoria, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and representatives from non-government organisations in which it was acknowledged that the community had been experiencing fragmented services, duplication of effort and in some cases, a lack of services. The Advancing Country Towns approach seeks to overcome these challenges by bringing together the resources of all three tiers of government with local business, community organisations, residents and philanthropic organisations to address a range of complex and inter-related issues experienced in a single location.

Program design considerations

Program design, key contextual matters considered and stakeholder engagement

Design of the Benalla Job Readiness and Aspirations initiative was undertaken in collaboration with local businesses, which noted that prospective employees, whilst available in Benalla, did not possess the necessary literacy, numeracy or work-ready skills necessary for employment. The program is designed to consider the specific skills required to contribute to local industries, and provide a platform on which these skills may be developed with the assistance of local business owners. This enables job seekers to not only develop the skills required to engage in employment, but also opportunities to build relationships with prospective employers and pursue job opportunities.

In addition, the initiative has been designed to include activities which explore how industries and educators may collaborate to guide the development of career pathways and incentives for increased qualification (educational attainment) and employment.

Target cohort

The program is targeted at young people aged 16 to 18 years, most of who are not in education, employment or training, lack family support and have no interaction with the local job network. Participants are generally experiencing low self-esteem, generational poverty and do not have role models.

Program outputs

> 48 young people have enrolled in the ten-week job readiness program.

> Pilot program at Benalla College. > Completion of a parent engagement survey.

> Completion of an audit of current communication and collaboration practices.

Program outcomes

> To date, nine program participants have found employment opportunities, two of these without assistance from local community job networks.

> Improved collaboration between local employers, employment agencies and job seekers.

Key success factors associated with the program include:

> the ability of the program to raise the profile of young people in the local community through graduation ceremonies and direct interaction with local business owners; and

> progression from using referrals from service agencies for young people into the program to young people self-referring.

Program outcomes

Key success factors

Program refinement and change

Given the programs relative infancy, no program refinements or changes have been made to date.

Program evaluation and monitoring

Program outputs and outcomes are monitored in accordance with a Benefits Management Plan, which outlines baseline information, data sources, key targets and frequency of reporting periods. Given that reporting did not commence until December 2012, no program output or outcome data is available at this stage, and nor has an evaluation been undertaken.

Program evolution and change

Program overview

Objectives

Key activities

The Expanded Pathways, Improved Transitions (EPIT) program, formerly known as the Post Compulsory Change Project, is a partnership arrangement in which seven self-selected schools in the Geelong region LLEN seek to improve outcomes and destinations for young people by expanding curriculum pathways and transition support. The project is based on in-depth research and analysis regarding student pathways choices, options and outcomes, and was launched in April 2007.

> To improve outcomes and destinations for young people by expanding pathways and transition support through partnerships (i.e. increase the number of young people engaged in these pathways).

> To identify strategies for effective change management in schools so they provide students with a range of pathways and transition services responsive to local

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