Daystar Foundation now employs five people who have come to us for Work for the Dole training.
Daystar Foundation works with the Federal Government’s Department of Employment and a number of ‘jobactives’ to provide a hosting service for the Work for the Dole program. Since its inception in mid 2015, Daystar Foundation has helped prepare 1,800 people for work through Work for the Dole.
The mandate for hosting services like Daystar Foundation is to ensure participants are ‘Job Ready’. We use surveys when participants commence and complete their activities to determine levels of Job Readiness. We have been very successful in preparing participants to return to work by providing a range of activities that simulate a workplace environment.
We intentionally use five key pillars to prepare our participants:
-
Personal identity
-
Aspirations
-
Literacy and numeracy
-
Employability skills
-
Alternative employment pathways.
Our social enterprises provide simulated work environments that deliver practical, hands-on training which leads to improved self-esteem equipping participants with the confidence to move away from welfare support and secure employment. Programs are varied so as to engage the diverse interests and skills sets of participants. Experience tells us this is a key success factor in achieving the high participation rates of the people referred to us.
Foodcare
Foodcare provides affordable shopping to local housing residents and others in the Bonnyrigg community.
Food and household items are purchased from Foodbank NSW by Daystar Foundation and then on-sold to our customers at very affordable prices.
Customers tell us that savings on food and household items give them financial capacity to help pay for utilities such as power and water.
Our Work for the Dole participants learn a range of real life skills including warehousing, logistics, data entry, cash handling, customer service, online ordering, food handling and storage.
Over 300 participants have participated in a range of industry qualifications such as White card, Traffic Control, First Aid and Certificate 2 and 3 courses such as Warehousing/Logistics and Retail.
Mowtivation
MOWtivation was developed to meet the requirements of St George Community Housing’s social procurement policy. Daystar Foundation has a sub-contract tender to mow and provide lawn and garden maintenance for the Bonnyrigg Housing Estate administered by St George Community Housing.
Social housing is an indicator of concentrations of low income families where there are more likely to be youth at risk.
St Georges Community Housing is one of the largest social housing providers in Australia, housing over 8,900 people in 4,700 homes and operates in 24 Sydney Metropolitan local government areas.
St George Community Housing partners with government agencies and stakeholders to provide a range of education, training, education, employment and community engagement initiatives to improve the lives of tenants.
There are 641 properties in Bonnyrigg which house 1,584 tenants.
Participants in MOWtivation are involved in maintaining common areas and residential properties on Bonnyrigg Housing Estate.
Participants learn a range of practical skills such as how to use and maintain of a range of lawn and garden maintenance equipment, logistics and planning, literacy and numeracy skills, Work, Health & Safety requirements, cash handling and reconciliation, and basic business and bookkeeping skills.
More than 100 clients have been secured since the program’s inception in 2016. Our objective is to build the client base by 20% each year over the next five years.
Scented Candles &
Handcraft Cards
Participants learn how to design and create aromatic candles, soaps and handcrafted cards for local markets.
Skills learned include designing candles, candle production, use of equipment, Work, Health & Safety, calligraphy, sales and marketing, data entry, online ordering, logistics, computers, packaging and presentation, cash handling and reconciliation, teamwork and leadership skills.
Shabby to Chic
This social enterprise involves repurposing pallets and used furniture to create a range of products such as picture frames, notice boards and guitar stands. Participants learn how to use a range of handyman tools, work in a team, plan designs and activities, logistics, painting and decorating, customer service, marketing, cash handling and reconciliation.
Star Coffee Bar
Participants learn and perform a range of activities and skills including serving customers in a retail environment, gaining skills in hospitality and customer service, Barista techniques, food preparation and presentation, café set up, stocktake and ordering, hygiene standards, maintenance and service of coffee machine, marketing and promotion, cash handling and reconciliation, basic accounting and business skills.
