A core group of twenty-two local students aged between 11 and 16, supported by Tomorrow Today Foundation, explored local issues that were pertinent to them.  They then participated in sessions with top Australian digital company Seer Data and Analytics to ‘think outside the square’ and identify possible digital solutions.

“The bigger process involved consultation with close to 300 students as ideas were floated and assessed,” said Sally Matheson from Tomorrow Today.  “There has been an outstanding commitment to explore and learn.  It has required team work, communication and problem solving skills as well as digital literacy,” she said.

The issue considered most suited to a digital solution was the difficulty experienced by 15 – 24 year olds in finding jobs, work placements and volunteering opportunities.  The twenty-two strong group of 11 – 16 year olds worked with some of Australia’s top digital designers to co-create a website that is easy and useful from an employer’s perspective.  The website was market tested on willing employers and supporters recently.  “Every one of the 11 – 16 years olds participated in the pitch and live demonstration of their website and received feedback which is being acted on.  There was great enthusiasm for the product, which is now being finalised.”

“Benalla’s young people are so inspirational and talented. They are proud of the product they have created.   With sound marketing, local business support and more team work it will benefit so many in our community. What a great group of dynamic and forward thinking young people!” said Ms. Matheson.

A marketing strategy is currently being developed by these young entrepreneurs with a plan for the website to go live in May.

For all 11 – 16 year olds who missed out on the first round of digital awesomeness, take heart.  Another program will be run in 2019.  Contact Tomorrow Today to register interest 5762 1211.

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Tomorrow Today is Benalla and district’s community foundation, funding activities that build strength and resilience across Benalla with the help of many partners and volunteers. Tomorrow Today’s Annual Grants allow local organisations to run great projects that promote community wellbeing and social inclusion, and their Education Benalla Program is improving life chances and choices for Benalla’s children and young people.

The role of the Friends will be to organise a major fundraising event for the Foundation each year. Volunteers will help with organising the event and assisting on the day. All monies raised will benefit the Benalla community.

“We would be thrilled to have interested local people on board in whatever capacity they can, giving whatever time they can” said Chair of Tomorrow Today, Sally Gamble.  “With a small amount of help from a dedicated group of people there is so much that can be achieved. Fundraising is vital to support the sustainability of Tomorrow Today and our Education Benalla Program.  The beauty of locally raised funds is the flexibility to support the greatest need at any given time,” said Ms Gamble.

To register your interest in attending the Friends of Tomorrow Today meeting on 25^th February 2019, please contact (03) 5762 1211.

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More than 90 people attended the event, which showcased the great work being done by the foundation to build strength and resilience in the Benalla community.

The program kicked off with a short video depicting two of Tomorrow Today’s flagship programs, PEEP (Parents Early Education Partnership) and Connect9, followed by interviews with a number of families and organisers who have been involved in Tomorrow Today’s activities.

One of those interviews told the story of successful outcomes for four siblings from a family that has faced significant financial hardship.

Three of the young people have gained apprenticeships with local employers, and their younger brother has landed a part-time after-school job.

All four children participated in Tomorrow Today’s Connect9 mentoring program and Paid Part-Time Work Training.

Their mum attributes much of their growth in skills and confidence to these programs.

In the final interview another mother praised the Hands On Learning program supported by Tomorrow Today at Benalla P-12 College, which she said had been crucial in keeping her young son engaged with learning.

Tomorrow Today Chair Sally Gamble reported on a successful year, particularly noting the purchase of the Cecily Court property where the organisation hosts parenting, mentoring, work skills and community development related activities.

The purchase gives Tomorrow Today a permanent home and will ensure that the foundation can continue to work for the good of Benalla long into the future.

In more recent developments, three new board members have been recruited who together bring a variety of skills, experience and new ideas to the foundation.

In closing, Ms Gamble thanked the many donors, funders, community partners and volunteers who make the work of Tomorrow Today possible.

At the end of the evening, State Member for Euroa Steph Ryan announced that if elected the Nationals would provide $1 million to Tomorrow Today to support their successful PEEP program for the next four years.

Pictured: Tomorrow Today’s Executive Officer Pat Claridge, Tomorrow Today directors Louise Pearce, Florent Thivillier, Nick Taylor, Liz Chapman, Sally Gamble, Bill Dobson (retired), Melinda Lawley and Adrian Aldous with The Ian Potter Foundation senior program manager Alberto Furlan, and Trustee of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Winsome McCaughey.

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Local Learning & Employment Network (NE Tracks LLEN) Executive Officer Danny O’Donoghue explained the issue to participants.

“On one hand there is a high level of unemployment among Benalla’s young people and on the other, many employers are finding it difficult to attract appropriately skilled workers,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

He also spoke of the importance of school-based apprenticeships and traineeships as a way of integrating quality work experience with young people’s education journey.

“(This) has proven hugely successful for both employers and young people,” he said.

Benalla Future Work Steering Committee coordinator Sally Matheson spoke of the importance of building a bridge between inexperience and employability.

“School-based apprenticeships and traineeships are government subsidised and offer a viable model for employers,” Ms Matheson said.

Inspiring stories were shared at the event, with presentations from young people who are benefiting from placements within the building industry, health and farming sectors.

Brayden Wapling, who is completing a school-based apprenticeship with DC Building Contractors, spoke of the benefits of his traineeship.

“I started at the beginning of this year and have built up many skills I hadn’t known before,” he said.

“I have gained an understanding of how the industry works and this will help me going on to future work with the business.”

Speaking after the event Ms Matheson said the enthusiasm of the young people was infectious.

“It was wonderful to hear each of their journeys into the workforce,” she said.

“The strong relationship each has with their employer, who is also their mentor, was palpable.

“We are calling on Benalla businesses to give a young person their first break into the world of work.”

Tomorrow Today Foundation coordinates the Benalla Future Work Steering Committee.

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Benalla has alarmingly high levels of reported family violence incidents. We are the highest ranked local government area in the Hume region for incidents where children are present.

Children exposed to family violence are at risk of emotional and psychological trauma and becoming the direct victim of physical or sexual abuse. Family violence can become a learned behaviour, meaning children may grow up to think it is okay to use violence to get what they want and as adults that it is okay for them to be violent in their relationships.

If you or someone you know if experiencing family violence, please visit the website https://centreagainstviolence.org.au/ or call 1800 015 188.

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The workshops were held in partnership with Seer Data and Analytics which, like Tomorrow Today, is at the forefront of finding ways to tackle social problems.

Using the process of design thinking, the students combined their own ideas with feedback received from community interviews and social media polls to plan solutions to the issues of bullying, suicide, job opportunities, educational opportunities, entertainment for young people and the environment.

Project coordinator Sally Matheson was excited by the solutions the students proposed.

“They needed to understand the issue from the perspective of others, so that they could design usable solutions” Ms Matheson said.

“The afternoon session got the students’ creative juices flowing. They really thought outside the square. It was rewarding to see the young people so engaged in tasks that required them to utilise communication skills, digital literacy, and creative and problem solving skills.”

Sally encouraged the community to support the students’ work by adding comments on the project’s display wall, which is moved to different locations around town, and through a Facebook page that will be launched in the next few weeks.

The next step in the project will occur during the January school holidays.

Students will participate in a co-creation workshop with some of Australia’s top digital designers.

The focus will be on developing digital solutions to help solve the key issues that have been identified.

“The young people are excited about seeing their hard work come to fruition,” Ms Matheson said.

“They are looking forward to the experience of digital design and testing.”

There is still an opportunity for young people to get involved in this design and problem-solving challenge.

If you or someone you know would like to participate, phone Tomorrow Today Foundation on 03 5762 1211.

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Members of the Benalla Future Work Project are looking to reverse this trend by providing local businesses with information to demystify the process of taking on a young person, and highlight the many benefits including support and financial incentives.

NE Tracks LLEN Executive Officer and Future Work Steering Group member Danny O’Donoghue said there was a paradox in the labour market in Benalla and more broadly across Australia.

“We are experiencing a high rate of youth unemployment on one hand and businesses find it very difficult to fill jobs with people with appropriate skills, attributes and attitudes, on the other,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

This is where local business can become involved. The key to solving this dilemma is having young people exposed to the work environment while they are still at school.

The tried and proven successful model for this to happen is School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

Employers can mentor young people into the world of work and be reimbursed for some employment costs to assist their business financially in the short term.

The long-term gain for the business is having a potential employee know and understand the world of work. They are then ready for employment when they leave school.

The Future Work Steering Group is staging a free event to enable local businesses to find out more about the work placement options available.

The evening will feature presentations from Sarina Russo Apprenticeships, NE Tracks Local Learning Employment Network and CVGT Australia.

Three local business people who have provided work placement and training opportunities for Benalla’s young people will speak about their experiences and respond to questions.

“We are calling on more local businesses to give a young person a great start to their working life,” said Sally Matheson, Program Manager at Tomorrow Today Foundation, which convenes the Future Work Steering Group.

“With 80 per cent of employers in the Hume Region saying skills are more important than qualifications and 74 per cent of these employers agreeing there has been a positive return on investment from training, now is a great time to support the work placement and training of Benalla’s young people.”

The Benalla Future Work Project is providing opportunities for local youngsters to get hands-on workplace experience.

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Tomorrow Today Foundation linked the students to a powerful network of businesses for a one-day workshop to build the students understanding of job interview techniques and processes, enabling them to experience realistic interview scenarios with corporate mentors.

Students were also provided with constructive feedback and advice on their performance in the interviews.

Benalla P-12 College careers advisor Kellie Cairncross said the sessions were outstanding.

“The activity was relevant, engaging, fast-paced and practical,” Ms Cairncross said.

“And the corporate mentors seemed to enjoy the experience just as much as the students – it was a learning experience for everybody.”

All students reported a significant increase in their knowledge of how to prepare for an interview, as well as confidence in how to participate.

They also reported having clearer understanding of what skills employers are looking for and the importance of body language and non-verbal communication.

Local organisation, Tomorrow Today Foundation, brokered the introduction between the Australian Business Community Network and Benalla P-12 College and helped resource participation.

“Benalla supports its young people to achieve,” Tomorrow Today’s Education Benalla Program Convenor Liz Chapman said.

“A good education relies on family, school and community working together to provide the best possible learning environment.

“I believe the partnerships between Benalla P-12 College, Tomorrow Today, our business partners here in Benalla and our corporate networks in Melbourne have so much to offer our young people.”

Year 10 Benalla P-12 College students engaging in workshops.

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The students gathered at the Lakeside Community Centre to show off the philanthropic projects they have been working on since pitching their ideas to a community panel in July.

The program, which is now in its third year, is a partnership between Tomorrow Today, Kid’s Thrive and Benalla P-12 College and encourages students to connect with their community.

After choosing a mutual passion and forming small groups, the students then researched which community organisation most aligned with their passion, before forming a partnership with the group to work towards a common goal.

Tomorrow Today Student Wellbeing Coordinator Cathy Hair said the day was all about letting the students showcase their achievements.

“The students grow in confidence and get more connected with the community through the program,” Mrs Hair said.

“This year the group has been very inclusive, we usually get one, but this year we have two groups working with people with disabilities. They put on a morning tea, did some activities and fundraising, so that stood out this year. Feedback from places like Yooralla that have partnered with the students said they were outstanding.”

Other projects that were on display included a sports project, wildlife project and a cultural kids thrive project.

One aspect that was also used throughout the program was the use of the three T’s – time, talent and treasure.

The students have volunteered their time, used their talents and money as treasure to acheive their desired outcomes.

Mrs Hair said she hoped to see the students continue to strive to help the community for years to come.

“The plan is that in the future these young people will understand more about volunteering and we’ll keep that wonderful bank of volunteers that we have here in Benalla.”

Benalla P-12 College students with their Wildlife Warriors project.

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The room was buzzing with anticipation and excitement as the students met with Tomorrow Today Foundation and Seer Data and Analytics, two organisations at the forefront of finding innovative ways to tackle social problems.

Two interactive workshops were held to identify issues in the Benalla community that matter to young people. The range of issues identified included bullying, youth suicide, drug abuse, the environment, lack of entertainment for young people, and limited educational and employment opportunities. The groups were guided through a series of questions to enable them to further explore each issue. They were encouraged to think through why each problem had not been solved already and what an ideal solution would look like.

Project coordinator, Sally Matheson, was thrilled with the level of engagement and interest from the students. “This project is providing Benalla’s young people with communication skills, digital literacy, and creative and problem solving skills that are needed to survive and thrive in the workplace”, she said. “It is estimated that Australians will make 17 changes in employers across 5 different careers in the not too distant future. It is critical that our young people develop a portfolio of flexible skills that will give them the greatest advantage when they enter the workforce”.

The next step in the project will occur during the September 2018 school holidays. The students will participate in a co-creation workshop with some of Australia’s top digital designers. The focus will be on finding a digital solution to help solve the key issues that have been identified. “The young people are very excited about the next step in the project. They are looking forward to the opportunity to co-design Apps and computer programs.”

There is still an opportunity for young people to get involved in this design and problem solving challenge.  The next workshop will be held on 26 September and places are available for six girls and four boys aged 13-16 years.

If you or someone you know would like to participate, contact Tomorrow Today Foundation on 03 5762 1211 before 7 September 2018.

Students take part in Tomorrow Today’s community digital project.

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