The Father James Grant Foundation: Mission Engage Program Prospectus
Mission and Vision The mission of the Father James Grant Foundation is to: 1. Be a leading provider of youth employment training, where young Australians can receive support, skills and encouragement to recognise their full potential 2. Increase employment opportunities for local Australian business communities. I think one of the great issues facing Australians is employment. Especially for young people under 25- that time is critical. Father James Grant Foundation connects businesses with local youth communities through mutually beneficial partnerships that positively and tangibly impact the lives of disengaged young people, and in turn, the wider community. Through my years spent working in the business and education sector, I ve come to realise that employers are looking for ways to engage with the wider community and pool their talents to make a real difference to the world. There are so many opportunities for businesses and communities to collaborate for maximum and shared benefi t. - Father James Grant 3
Background of the Father James Grant Foundation 4 What s driving me is, how can I be a useful Priest and Chaplain? If chaplaincy involved just walking around talking to people I would have been out of business a long time ago. You have to be the source of positive change. After successful ventures with Chaplains without Borders and Catholics in Business, Father James Grant founded the Father James Grant Foundation in early 2015. With a philanthropic focus, the Foundation was established to harness the skills and the knowledge of business people. With over two decades of experience working within the education and chaplaincy sectors, Fr. James Grant has developed a deep understanding and knowledge of the driving motivations behind youth disengagement. Furthermore, he has identifi ed a real need for businesses to get more out of their social programs. - Father James Grant The Foundation has a specific focus on directionless youth, and has recently developed a youth employment-training program, the Youth Engagement Development Program. Father James founded Australia s fi rst inter-faith corporate chaplaincy service, and has worked extensively within organisations including Crown Casino, Southern Cross Station, Bendigo Bank, Myer, Target, the Peter MacCullum Cancer Clinic, CrownBet, Melbourne Victory F.C, Premier Fruits, I.P.A, and the Wilson Group, in providing corporate-based chaplaincy initiatives. Father James has also founded two schools on the Indian sub-continent.
Mission Engage Youth Program - Aims & Purposes The Mission Engage youth program is a national initiative that hopes to increase employment opportunities for disengaged Australian youth through support and mentoring services. It is a free service for young Australians, provided with the financial assistance from host businesses, philanthropic activities and support of the Fr. James Grant Foundation. Aims: The Fr. James Grant Foundation independently aims to: 1. Provide young Australians with skills, confidence, and exposure to work experiences that will improve their employability 2. Engage 18-22 year old Australians, from a variety of backgrounds particularly those who are without a clear vision for their future 3. Work with individuals who are law abiding, but whose school, sporting and social experiences have failed to inspire confidence or a strong sense of self 4. Work in partnership with businesses to provide real employment pathways for young people otherwise at risk of long-term unemployment and disadvantage. Most businesses will train people in the specific skills required for the role, so what they re often looking for in new employees are the fundamental values attitude; reliability, punctuality, loyalty. De-motivation and lack of confidence are common characteristics in some young people. Our job is to build confidence while helping them to develop realistic expectations about employment opportunities. - Father James Grant 5
The need for the Mission Engage Youth Program This program is a circuit-breaker. By working in partnership with businesses, we can step in before these young people drift too far from normal development and employment paths. We can provide them with opportunities to reflect on life, engage with motivated mentors and role-models, and modify their attitudes and behaviour. Youth unemployment remains a key issue in Australia, with 13.3% of Australian youth currently without solid employment or enrolled in further educational training. 1 Many young Australians leave secondary education without any academic aspirations and no clear vision or understanding of a career path. These youth can be lawabiding, living harmoniously with their family, and engaged in other social and community activities, but lacking the motivation or the skills required to gain meaningful employment. 1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015 6 - Father James Grant Without a clear direction, youth can become disengaged, often leading to low-self esteem, isolation, drug and alcohol abuse, crime, and long-term unemployment. What is initially a single issue such as unemployment after completing school becomes multi-faceted, and this can have negative consequences for the young person, their family and friends, and the wider community. The Mission Engage youth program was developed to encourage and engage at risk youth, and provide them with the necessary skills, training and confi dence to fi nd employment.
Mission Engage Program Structure The four-week training program addresses a range of issues through a unique combination of activities and training that include: 1. Practical skills: Job seeking and selection, interview training, resume preparation, professional behaviour, time management and organisational skills. 2. Physical activities: Self-defence, yoga, and other light physical training (all conducted by qualified trainers) aims to build confidence and pride in physical capabilities and appearance. 3. Psychological support: Goal setting, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and developing positive mental health, resilience and emotional intelligence. 4. Workplace experience: Insight and information into workplaces and roles, workplace culture and employers expectations. This may include observation of people at work and involvement in supervised workplace duties. 5. Mentoring: Participants work alongside mentors who provide support and encouragement. This aims to provide real life experiences, and aid the participants in building positive role models and networks. The teaching and support provided by the Mission Engage Youth Program extends beyond the practical skills required for employment. The Mission Engage Youth Program explains the discipline, insight and dedication required to work in the real world. The Mission Engage Youth Program is not just employment focused. There is also a strong cultural component. For retail businesses, the Mission Engage Youth Program offers a chance to tap into a pool of potentially loyal employees. 7
History of Mission Engage In September 2013, the Father James Grant Foundation ran a highly successful pilot program with 11 participants in Melbourne. Crown Casino provided facilities, and more than 20 Crown employees contributed their skills, time, and support. This pilot program provided participants with information about the employment process at Crown, and work experience alongside assigned mentors. Participants, facilitators, mentors, Crown College and other Crown employees were overwhelmingly positive about the program and its outcomes. Organisational benefits of the Mission Engage Youth Program include: 1. Low resourcing requirements 2. Opportunities to build positive organisational reputation with local and state communities 3. Up-skilling of staff through mentorship and training opportunities 4. Opportunities for talent acquisition and recruitment. 8
Program Facilitator: Vinnie Azzopardie A strong communicator with a passion for making a positive difference, Vinnie Azzopardi proudly facilitates the Youth Engagement Development Program. Vinnie graduated from De La Salle College Malvern in 1996, before moving on to a successful career in advertising. Spurred by a desire to work within the community service sector, Vinnie took up a role in the Responsible Gaming Support Centre at Crown Casino. This role involved counselling, psychological and chaplaincy referral, and crisis assistance, and in it, he helped countless Australians reconsider their gambling behaviours and seek a different perspective on their future lives. Approachable, patient and supportive, Vinnie has showed his superior interpersonal and compassionate people skills are invaluable in forming trusting and supportive relationships with disengaged youth. Vinnie s values emphasise giving back to the community, and his role with the Father James Foundation will allow him to further build these skills. Overcoming adversity requires a changing of perspective. I want to help change the downward spiral of these young people by being a positive and encouraging figure in their lives. - Vinne Azzopardie 9
Testimonials and Supporters The Youth Engagement Development Program gives young people an opportunity to get real workplace experience. It provides young people with invaluable encouragement and direction. If we care about the future of Australia and the future of our young people, business should support this program it can t function without this support. John Roskam, Executive Director, Institute of Public Affairs. This program is just one of the reasons that Father James does such great work. He is out there at the coalface, not lecturing from above. Thanks to his years of experience within the sector, Father James is successfully delivering a really powerful message that we need all need to be responsible for change. Richard Alston, AO Corporate Australia needs to embrace the Youth Engagement Program, and see it as a great opportunity that it is. The program offers opportunities for a range of businesses. It is all about support and education, and without those things, no one will grow as a team or as an individuals. Kate Johnson, Senior Account Manager, Memento Creative Plenty of organisations could benefi t from this program. With Father James at the helm, this program presents great opportunities for Australian businesses, their local communities, and society at large. Colin Chanter, CEO, AssetCo Management, Southern Cross Station 10