This week in Osborne Park’s 5-Week Mindfulness Workshop, they turned their focus to the future with an inspiring and creative activity, making vision boards.

During the session, our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants got to work exploring life goals, relationship hopes and the kind of lives they want to build. With magazines, scissors and glue, Participants were able to map out their goals and dreams, allowing them to always have a physical representation of their aspirations. Whilst making their vision boards, the Participants also engaged in meaningful conversations about their struggles and hopes for a better tomorrow.

The activity was a powerful way to bring clarity to our Participants values and dreams, allowing them to reconnect with what truly matters to them on their employment journey.

The team were thrilled to welcome new Participants into the group this week and found it heart-warming to see how naturally everyone connected. These workshops are valuable for both mindfulness and social connection, giving Participants the chance to feel seen, heard and supported while building relationships with their peers.

This week in Osborne Park’s 5-Week Mindfulness Workshop, our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants explored a hands-on strategy for managing stress and anxiety: creating worry boxes.

Each Participant wrote down their worries, and then placed them into a box as a way of saying, “𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘮𝘦.”

Experiencing worry is a natural response to life’s challenges. But when left unmanaged, those thoughts can become overwhelming and intrusive, making it harder to focus, sleep, or simply enjoy the moment. That’s why developing simple, mindful tools like the worry box is so valuable. This simple yet powerful activity helps create space between us and our anxious thoughts, making them feel lighter and more manageable.

As each week passes, we’re seeing more confidence, self-awareness, and emotional resilience developing in our Participants. It’s a privilege to witness Participants gaining not just tools, but a deeper sense of calm and control in their lives.

Last week at Status Osborne Park, our 5-Week Mindfulness Workshop continued with a relaxing and creative session of colouring.

Our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants embraced this session with enthusiasm, filling pages with vibrant colours. The atmosphere was serene yet joyful, the perfect balance of mindful focus and creative expression.

Did you know? When you colour, your brain gets a workout. The logical side decides which colours to pick, while the creative side figures out how to pair those colours together. While this is the theory, what truly matters is the moment. Colouring draws your attention fully into the present, helping quiet the mind and ease stress.

Through workshops like these, our Participants are making steady progress in overcoming personal barriers. Our weekly mindfulness activities ease the pressure of expectation, creating space for natural, stress-free growth. We are delighted to see the meaningful connections and calm moments growing stronger each week.

Last week, Status Osborne Park launched a 5-week Mindfulness Workshop in the lead-up to R U OK? Day this September. Each week, our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants are welcomed into a safe space with a range of activities designed to foster connection, support and emotional wellbeing.

The first session kicked off with a calming succulent planting activity. In the lead up to the event, our team worked hard to gather everything needed for a relaxing session:

• Post Placement Support Mentor, Andrea, sourced a wonderful collection of succulents—generously shared by her neighbour with a passion for gardening.
• Team Leader, Violet, hunted down quirky mugs and other materials from local op shops to make the activity personal and fun.
• Youth Peer Mentor, Sheree, facilitated the session with care and energy, while Link Workers, Zane and Catherine, supported the Participants throughout.
• Meanwhile, Link Worker, Asha and Industry Specialist Consultant, Emma, ensured the day-to-day operations of the centre continued seamlessly in the background.

It was a heart-warming, engaging session where Participants opened up, shared stories and formed genuine connections. Barriers began to soften, friendships started to bloom and the atmosphere was filled with laughter, reflection and a sense of belonging. The smiles say it all!

At Status, we are proud to be supporting our Participants not only in their vocational goals but also in addressing the non-vocational barriers that can significantly impact their journeys, like mental health.

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!