Berry Street senior youth investment co-ordinator Sarah Norris said some young people faced significant barriers to entering the workforce, especially if they had been exposed to trauma, violence or homelessness.
She said the forum would help inform businesses of the best way to bringing down barriers, and would also launch the Grow Greater Shepparton’s youth employment jobs tab.
The youth employment tab will be a section of GGS’s website, specialising in making the process of young people finding work and employers recruiting youth easier.
Organised by the Education First Youth Foyer at Berry Street, the event is also supported by the Goulburn Murray Local Learning and Employment Network, Grow Greater Shepparton and Industry Training Hubs.
“Trauma can impact how we make connections and interact with our world. This can result in challenges in entering and sustaining employment,” Ms Norris said.
“We are wanting to address this and assist local employers to be better equipped to work with young people in our programs.
“In doing this, we believe that we will see more successful outcomes, as well as assisting to foster community and growth within the Shepparton region.”
The information is focused on young people, but is applicable to anyone across the community who may have been affected by trauma.
Ms Norris said the pandemic had exacerbated trauma for some young people and had cut people out of the workforce for two years, with many entry-level jobs such as hospitality and events shut down for the better part of 2020 and 2021.
“The employment summit aims to provide employers with information in order to better support youth entering the workplace,” she said.
The event will be held at Belcibo & Co on August 3 but is at capacity, for inquiries about future events contact Ms Norris on snorris@berrystreet.org.au
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