G’day and privet!
My name’s Alexander.
I’m the manager at the Russian Ethnic Representative Council. We are a small community organisation that has been helping those in need for more than 30 years.
Many Russian speakers and Slavic background people, but because we are a welfare agency based in Fitzroy, surrounded by lots of public housing, we get approached by lots of people in need from the local community in the Inner North as well.
We want to be able to help everyone that comes to us.
That’s why we are appealing to you, asking you to please make a pledge.
With your help we will be able to set up a small employment program run by a part-time staff member and a few volunteers.
Having a job is just so important; with a job, you have identity, have something to do, dignity, finances, interactions with people, and all one’s other issues and problems become a lot less significant. People are able to provide for themselves, and/or
their families.
They get back their self-esteem, and have a pride that they are contributing members of society.
Every week we see people who are long-term unemployed, highly qualified professionals from Russia and other migrants who do not know the Australian job market and just need a little advice and local experience.
Russian brides that have experienced domestic violence and now need to provide for their children.
Young people who just want to be given a chance – we have close links with employers and so can often arrange trial periods of work.
The Russian Council and other organisations we network with also have volunteer positions where jobseekers can get used to the Australian work culture and get a reference.
And so thank-you! We are counting on your support.
WE NEED $5,000 to start an employment program. It will change lives. PLEASE HELP US!
$3,000 Tipping Point Goal
RERC will be recruiting an Employment Services Project Officer. The brief of the Employment Worker will be to source, train and support five volunteers (with another 2-5 volunteers as back-up).
The role of this Employment Team will then be to assist unemployed job-seekers, with advocacy, referral, information, advice on resumes and cover letters, job-search strategies, the hidden job market, mock interviews, networking opportunities, Australian
job market and culture.
Job-seekers will have the opportunity to regularly meet as a group and learn from each other, exchange ideas and strategies, and provide moral support to each other.
Some job-seekers may benefit from placement in local industry for work-experience, and that could be negotiated.
As required, and if there is the demand, this small targeted employment team will also conduct workshops, seminars and information sessions. Material will be presented by the Team, or specialist topic guest speakers (from our database of local and Melbourne-based
employers) will be invited to make real-world presentations.
-If we reach our tipping point we will be running the program for three months and assisting 20 jobseekers. We anticipate that 50% of jobseekers will be placed into on-going employment. Volunteers will continue to work with current clients and new people
after the project funding has run out.
If, with your help, we achieve our Ultimate Goal (and with possible matching funding from Inner North Community Foundation), the employment program will be able to assist another 25 disadvantaged jobseekers, and place another 15 people into employment.
The Employment Program will be able to work much more intensively with clients. People will acquire a broader range of skills/experience and be in a better position to get a more ideal job and to maintain their employment for the long-term.
With more funding, the Employment Program, will be able to run for six months and thus the volunteers will be better prepared to continue providing services at the end of the project. We always try to build a component of self-sustainability into our work,
and this project is no different.
