Last week our Mirrabooka Indigenous Mentor, Josephine and Morley Youth Peer Mentor, Sheree, were invited to host an Indigenous Art Session at Altone Youth Centre, a vibrant local drop-in space offering support and activities for both young people aged 12–18 and those aged 18 and over.

The session was a wonderful blend of colour, conversation, and community spirit. The youth welcomed our team warmly, sharing their stories, school experiences and even a little drama - reminding us of the everyday challenges they face and the importance of creating safe, open spaces for them to connect and express themselves.

With plenty of food from OzHarvest, games, and laughter, the energy was infectious. It was also a great chance to deepen our relationship with the incredible staff at Altone Youth Centre and to better understand the range of services they provide to support local young people.

We are excited about what’s to come and look forward to strengthening our partnership with Altone Youth Centre as we continue our work in the community through the Workforce Australia – Transition to Work program!

On 25 July, the Midland team proudly relaunched the newly improved Youth Lounge! Designed with our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants in mind, the refreshed space now better reflects their interests and provides a welcoming environment to learn, connect, and grow.

The event was a major success, with three guest employers attending to generously share their time and insights. Each employer shared their career journey, highlighting the message:
“It doesn’t matter where you start… just as long as you start.”
This inspired Participants to reflect on their own pathways and ask questions about employment opportunities.

We’re pleased to share that:
• One Participant was offered a position with D&R Carpet Cleaning
• Another Participant is set to begin work with Encore Monitoring once they complete the required industry certifications (with support from Status!)
• Two additional Participants will meet with Caper Group to explore potential apprenticeships

Thank you to Peter from D&R Carpet Cleaning, Stef from Caper Group, and Lucien from Encore Monitoring for attending the relaunch and supporting our Participants as they begin their employment journey!

𝗦𝗼, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲?
• Toasted sandwiches, microwave meals, fresh fruit, drinks, and lolly jars
• “Meet the Team” wall – featuring staff bios and country-of-origin flags
• Goals and vision board
• Musical instruments – acoustic guitar and keyboard
• Phone charging station
• Interactive board games – including Uno, Rubik’s Cubes, electric noughts and crosses, and music freeze handball
• Arts and crafts station – with weaving, canvas dot painting, origami, paint-by-numbers, LEGO, and jewel art

In addition to connecting with local employers, our Participants had a blast getting involved in a range of interactive and inclusive activities. From adding to the new vision board and testing out the Wii console, to enjoying pizza, snacks, and lucky door prizes, the relaunched Youth Lounge was buzzing with good vibes!

We also welcomed Participants to the new Quiet Room – a calming space with board games and sensory-friendly activities, designed for those who experience social anxiety or sensory processing challenges.

The relaunch of the Midland Youth Lounge was a resounding success, with all Participants enthusiastically exploring the revitalised space, designed with their interests and goals in mind. With more updates still to come, the lounge is set to become a vibrant hub for connection, growth, and opportunity.

Congratulations to our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participant, Maddison, who completed her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and began her first full-time job this July!

Maddi joined the Transition to Work program in June last year, seeking support and guidance for her future. As an early school leaver with limited formal qualifications and moderate transport challenges, she was looking for career direction.

Link Worker Amira worked closely with Maddi to explore her passions and strengths. Together, they discovered Maddi’s keen interest in early childhood education and arranged for her to enrol in a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Over the following months, the Status Mirrabooka team supported Maddi through:
𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: Post Placement Support Mentor Justin (who also completed the same qualification earlier in his career) checked in each week to provide ongoing support.
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: We funded a block of driving lessons to help Maddi obtain her licence.
𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲-𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀: Youth Peer Mentor Sheree connected Maddi with budgeting and healthy relationships workshops, equipping her with tools for financial independence and wellbeing.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Amira provided tailored resume writing and interview preparation, ensuring Maddi could confidently present her new skills to employers.

Thanks to Maddi’s dedication—and the support of the Status team—she:
1. Completed her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
2. Obtained her driver’s licence
3. Secured full-time employment in a childcare centre

During a recent visit to the team, Maddi shared the exciting news of her new role. The team was thrilled and helped her access funding for her uniform and a petrol voucher—so she’ll walk in (or better yet, drive in!) fully prepared to thrive in her new role.

Congratulations, Maddi, on your new role and licence—your hard work and determination have truly paid off!

Navigating the Australian tax system can be overwhelming, especially for young people just starting their careers. Last month, our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants were visited by Sandra from Next Generation Accounting and Tax for an empowering and insightful session focused on clarifying the world of taxes.

Sandra brought clarity, confidence, and a whole lot of energy to the room. Her presentation broke down the basics of tax in a way that was not only easy to understand but also engaging and relatable.

With tax time here, questions were flying, and Sandra answered them all with grace and generosity. Going above and beyond, she stayed after the session to offer free one-on-one consultations, giving our Participants the personal guidance they needed to feel prepared and empowered.

A big thank you to Sandra for sharing her time, wisdom, and passion. Her visit left a lasting impact, and the feedback from our attendees has been overwhelmingly positive. Our Participants now feel informed and equipped for tax time!

Congratulations to the over 25 Workforce Australia - Transition to Work Participants who broke down ID and fines barriers across two big days!

The event, held on the 22nd and 23rd of July, was a resounding success, with over two dozen Participants taking positive steps toward overcoming key barriers in their lives—many walking away with new identification, learner’s permits, and most importantly, a renewed sense of empowerment.

Across both days, the event was bustling with activity as Participants worked closely with support staff and service providers to tackle longstanding issues on their employment journey.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵?
• A whopping 18 Participants successfully attained their learner’s permits!
• 3 Participants visited the Centrelink stall to obtain or replace crucial identification cards.
• 5 Participants received their birth certificates through assistance from the Department of Justice.
• 1 Participant renewed their learner’s permit, and another ordered a replacement card.
• 2 supported in managing outstanding fines by being set up with Work and Development Permits or payment plans.

A highlight of the event was when one Participant finally received their photo ID, enabling them to open a bank account and begin receiving Centrelink payments - a milestone moment.

The positive impact of the event also saw members of the community enquire about our services and our capacity for their ongoing support!

Our Participants left the event with smiles on their faces, having taken meaningful and resilient steps forward in their personal journeys.

A huge thank you to our Status team for organising this trip and giving the culturally relevant services to our Participants. We are excited for the future!

We’re excited to share that Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participant Shwaish has commenced work as a Trade Assistant, stepping into the world of FIFO employment!

Shwaish joined the Status Mirrabooka program in 2023 with a keen interest in becoming a barber. With the support of the Mirrabooka team, he pursued that goal and successfully gained employment in the barbering industry, where he worked for around nine months and built valuable experience.

Despite his success as a barber, Shwaish returned to the program to explore new opportunities - this time expressing a strong interest in FIFO work. With the help of the team, he was connected with Linkforce, where he enthusiastically enrolled in and completed a four-week training course to prepare for the role.

Shwaish’s journey is a powerful example of persistence, adaptability, and the impact of strong partnerships.

Congratulations, Shwaish! We wish you all the best in your new role.

June 17th was a huge day for our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants. Following a license preparation and identification session, Participants attended the Aboriginal Justice Open Day in Ellenbrook, a powerful event hosted by the Department of Justice.

Prior to the open day, the team at Status Morley kicked off the month with a License Preparation and Identification Support Session, thoughtfully designed to help Participants navigate the often-complex requirements of obtaining a Learner’s Permit. Behind the scenes, our Marketing Team created a vibrant custom flyer and a tailored quiz worksheet to guide Participants through the process and boost their confidence.

During the session to support the Participants on their journey, each person received:
• A copy of the Drive Safe Handbook
• A custom Learner’s Permit quiz worksheet
• A detailed handout of identification requirements

To ensure everyone was fully equipped, each Participant also sat down for a one-on-one session with their Youth Peer Mentor, reviewing their individual ID documents to meet the criteria set by the Department of Transport. Those who required additional documentation were scheduled for follow-up appointments.
A few days later, we provided transport from Status Morley to the Aboriginal Justice Open Day in Ellenbrook.

The outcomes? Outstanding!

Here’s what our Participants achieved at the event:
• 4 Participants obtained their Learner’s Permit
• 2 Participants received their Birth Certificates
• 2 Participants set up Time-to-Pay arrangements
• 1 Participant was issued a replacement Log Book
• 1 Participant completed their Hazard Perception Test (HPT)
• 1 Participant secured a Photo ID
• 1 Participant established a Work and Development Permit (WDP)

These are not just stats, they represent real steps forward in our Participants’ journeys toward education, employment, and independence. We are thrilled that the preparation session proved so impactful and that our Participants were able to seize meaningful opportunities at the Aboriginal Justice Open Day. A huge thank you to the Department of Justice for hosting such a valuable event.

Looking ahead, Status Morley will make this type of site-based support a regular part of their monthly program. These sessions play a valuable role in helping Participants overcome practical barriers to education and employment.

Congratulations to our Participants who took this big step forward on their journey.