Briefs
The way ahead: Small Business Minister and MP for Dunkley Bruce Billson at the launch of the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Creating Futures for Youth program, with the brotherhood’s executive director Tony Nicholson, youth development worker Sali Shayia, and Citi Foundation’s Guy Matthews. Picture: Gary Sissons
US-based backing to help job skills program A NEW York-based philanthropic fund is helping finance a new employment skills program to help up to140 locally unemployed young people in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. The unveiling on Friday of the new Brotherhood of St Laurence program, Creating Futures for Youth, coincided with the release of figures showing youth unemployment in the area was nearly 20 per cent. The program - funded for 12 months by the New York-based Citi Foundation - offers career guidance, work placements and job search training from the Brotherhood's Frankston headquarters, the High St Centre.
The program, which will reach out to local employers, schools and service clubs, has been launched as unemployment rates for 15-24 year olds in Frankston and the peninsula area are “stubbornly high”, according to Brotherhood of St Laurence chief Tony Nicholson. Federal Department of Employment's figures in July showed youth unemployment in the area reached 18.6 per cent – 15 per cent above the Victorian average. "Young people today need strong supports in a much tougher job market to gain even entry level work,'' Mr Nicholson said. ''We know youth unemployment has
a scarring effect on young people and hurts their future prospects, including the chance of even holding down a steady job further down the track.'' Citi Australia's head of corporate affairs, Guy Matthews, said investing in young people to connect them to jobs is at the core of Citi Foundation. John Catto-Smith, who runs the Brotherhood's High St Centre, said the program will help 140 disadvantaged young people move from learning to employment. ''We are trying to break the cycle of youth unemployment, give them real work experience, teach them how to communicate better and use motivational methods to reach youth,' Mr Catto-Smith said.
WomenConnect lunch
Frankston on film
ISLAMIC Museum of Australia director Sherene Hassan will speak at the WomenConnect luncheon, Frankston Arts Centre, 11.30am, Wednesday 16 September. She is a former vice president and secretary of the Islamic Council of Victoria. Details and bookings: info@frankstonchamber.com.au or call 9781 1422.
THE short film Brief History of Frankston on Frankston TV, looks at Frankston from the early meetings of white settlers and local Aboriginal people, across the centuries to today. The three-minute-41-second production is available to view online at frankston.tv/video/a-brief-historyof-frankston.
Relay for life
Beach clean
FRANKSTON Relay for Life will run over 24 hours at Ballam Park, 19 and 20 September. The Frankston event has raised more than $1 million for Cancer Council Victoria since 2000. On average, more than 700 Frankston City residents are diagnosed with cancer each year. Details: relayforlife. org.au
FRANKSTON Beach Patrol’s September beach clean is 10-11am, Saturday 19 September. The cleaning crew will meet at Oliver’s Hill boat ramp and clean up the beach area. All welcome. Details: 0414 090 767.
Orchestra performs MELBOURNE Symphony Orchestra will perform at Frankston Arts Centre, 7pm, Monday 21 September. Concert master Eoin Andersen will lead this one-off performance of Mozart and Stravinsky at the Frankston Arts Centre’s main theatre. Details and bookings: thefac.com.au or call 9784 1060.
Computer workshop CHILDREN aged nine and over can attend this introduction to computer programming workshop, Carrum Downs Library, 1.30pm, Tuesday 22 September. They will learn programming language and how to create stories, games and animations. The workshop is free but bookings are essential on 9784 1020.
FUTSAL MANIA O P E N D AYE E! !T! MEET & GR
THE NEW INDOOR SOCCER, COME JOIN IN THE FUN UN AND ENJOY SOME FRIENDLY COMPETITION, (JUNIORS, MEN, WOMEN AND MIXED LEAGUES). ).
THE NEW INDOOR SOCCER MONDAYS & FRIDAYS @ John Paul College Frankston 161 McMahons Rd, Gate 5, Frankston 3199 From 5.00pm
MONDAY 14TH SEP 5-7PM
FREE GAMES
COME DOWN
TO FUTSAL MANIA & JOIN IN THE FUN
FREE SAUSAGE SIZZLE
Visit our website www.futsalmania.com.au or call us on
1300 001 359
for more info. Frankston Times 14 September 2015
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