07 DECEMBER 2022 | ISSUE 514 | FREE
WWW.GONAGAMBIE.COM.AU
NAGAMBIE YOUTH FUTURES LAUNCHED WITH $50K KICKSTART The Nagambie Youth Futures Project "Your Job is Here" is a daring initiative aiming to inspire young adults to undertake employment in their local community. Focusing on engagement and consultation between local businesses, government bodies and young people to explore their aspirations and endeavours, enabling the creation of opportunities within Nagambie’s various and growing industries. Nagambie businesses are transforming the region into a tourism, wine, hospitality and equine centre. Just 90 minutes from Melbourne people are making the ‘tree change’ to Nagambie. The region provides sustainable career opportunities ranging from the highly qualified engineer, winemaker, viticulturist, skilled technical and trades; to health professionals and a diversity of wine/ hospitality pathways. Nagambie businesses however are experiencing significant skill shortages across occupations and industries. Following a comprehensive survey and interviews with key local business leaders, Go Nagambie launched a report on future local career pathways for young people in the region on Wednesday November 23rd. A crowd of over 100 business leaders, community members and the future of the region, our young people, came together to hear about the ambitious project. “This comprehensive review has revealed significant vision into the changing dynamics of careers available in our region and the diversity of employment pathways available to young people,” said Go Nagambie’s Youth Future’s Project Coordinator John Beresford. “This report provides evidence and recommendations to assist Go Nagambie in developing a regional response to improve young people’s career pathways locally and address skill shortages in the regional labour market,” said Mr Beresford.. The evening provided the consultant, Marian Pettit an opportunity to present some of these insights following collation and analysis of the business survey and interviews with major local employers. “Currently, local businesses have over 150 job vacancies and are expecting the local labour market to grow by 25% (or 340 jobs) in the next two years. One third of the workforce is likely to retire in the next 5-10 years,” said Marian. Labour shortages and the opportunities to reap the rewards of economic growth continue to be constrained and a holistic regional approach is required.
“Local businesses share the same employment challenges and potential solutions. But surprisingly, only 13% of local employees are young people (under the age of 25 years). Young people are experiencing limited career opportunities in Nagambie,” said Marian. “Businesses need to capture the attention of local young people before they leave; tap into the influx of young people from the cities to regional Victoria and encourage experienced local people to return to Nagambie. Young people need to be informed and see their aspirations fulfilled by living in Nagambie.
The mentoring program will connect youth with industry personnel to engage in both one- on-one mentoring and inspirational speakers from experienced stakeholders. Through the establishment of partnerships with Nagambie’s local businesses and the formation of a database of enthusiastic young people, the connection and formation of these bonds can be fostered. Keynote speaker of the evening, Gerry Ryan OAM, founder of Jayco Corporation and local investor said he was embarrassed to present after what the young people had just delivered.
“This report presents insights into Nagambie’s labour market and an approach to lifting young peoples’ aspirations to work locally.
“I’m embarrassed to follow after that presentation, I mean what do you say,” said Mr. Ryan.
Given Nagambie has no local secondary school or TAFE, a young people’s enabling organisation(s) and networks are needed to communicate and link young people to local business. Working together across business, schools, TAFE, governments and with young people is essential over the longer term.
Mr Ryan congratulated Go Nagambie and the Youth Futures Group on the initiative, committing $50,000 to the project.
“Skills development remains a critical challenge for businesses and young people in Nagambie – linkage to government initiatives such as fee free TAFE places and Rural Inspire Youth Ambassador Program (RIYAP) are timely opportunities,” added Ms Pettit. Lee Rowland, President of Go Nagambie provided an update of all things Go Nagambie referencing the resilience the community has shown during the recent flood event. “We are a resilient community, we continue to be challenged, firstly with the Covid19 pandemic and more recently the flooding event that has placed pressures on our accommodation offering,” said Mr Rowland. “We have rallied as a community once again and we now need to reset and look to the future, and that future sits with our young people. “The Nagambie Youth Future’s Report provides recommendations to assist Go Nagambie in developing a regional response to improve young people’s career pathways locally and address skill shortages in the regional labour market,” added Mr Rowland. Nagambie Youth Futures Participants Matthew Gianarelli, Lexie Kleinig, Ben Shelton and Boyd Newnham presented on behalf of the group giving the adults in the room a glimpse of how they interact and how they want to connect. “We want to create connections between business and young people, be inspired to chase our dreams and not be afraid to think big. We can do this by working together creating a forum to generate impactful solutions,” said Matthew Gianarelli The ambitious group shared ideas to create a social network platform, an online place to connect youth to their futures enabling access to employment opportunities, education pathways and inspiring mentors.
“The Ryan Group Companies, Gervale Homes, Waterways Lifestyle Village and Mitchelton, together will commit $50000 towards ensuring that this project gains traction. Mr. Ryan went on to reflect on his career pathways speaking of his desire to be a dairy farmer but added that he didn’t do very well at school. “In Fact I got kicked out of school, I wasn’t very good at school,” he said “I look back on my journey, Melbourne Cups, International Cycling wins, but then I look in the mirror and I know that it wasn’t just me, it was my family, my friends that have helped me along the way, they are so important. “It’s people, and I stand here today and think how fantastic, Go Nagambie, the committee for taking this initiative. I came up here 20 years ago in search of a place to retire and it was the waterways and more importantly, the people that won me over. “The secret to success, surround yourself with people with the same vision, the same beliefs and success will follow, it will happen,” ended Mr Ryan. Go Nagambie is now inviting all interested young people to get involved in the program, to help build better outcomes and career pathways for your future. The Youth Futures Committee will provide a forum to initiate innovative ideas and solutions to challenges regional youth must navigate as they move into their chosen career pathways. The Youth Committee will operate with guidance and support from the Go Nagambie committee. Go Nagambie thanks the Heathcote-Nagambie Community Bank for supporting the project through their Community Grants Fund. For Further Information, please contact Sissy Hoskin 0419 627 276 executiveofficernltc@gmail.com