Residents of Melbourne’s north and west will be offered a helping hand into the hospitality sector as part of Melbourne Airport’s 2022 Community Grants scheme.
Three programs offering accessible hospitality training are among ten Neighbourhood House projects that will share in more than $100,000 worth of funding from Melbourne Airport.
The grants focus on programs that improve education outcomes and provide career pathways for disadvantaged residents and migrant families.
Other projects to receive funding include programs to provide homework and literacy support for primary school children, and computer and digital literacy support for residents to improve access to technology for job hunting and exam preparation.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said the airport was thrilled to continue its support of meaningful community projects on the airport’s doorstep.
“Our Community Grants program is designed to help local Neighbourhood Houses continue their important work providing residents with the support and training they need to succeed,” she said.
“It’s important to us that we invest back into our local area, and many of these projects will benefit the wider community.
“For example, the hospitality programs provide participants with new skills and potential job opportunities but then also offer local cafes and restaurants much needed potential staff.
“Given the hundreds of job opportunities available at Melbourne Airport, we would hope that some participants may eventually consider a career with one of our venues.”
Angeline Courtenay from Wingate Avenue Community Centre in Moonee Ponds said the $10,000 grant would fund the delivery of a Ready for Hospitality program.
“With this funding, we can provide classes that support learning outcomes for community members that are experiencing vulnerabilities and barriers to participating,” she said.
“Class sizes will be small and cater to culturally and linguistically diverse students to increase learning opportunities, and support students to gain employment in the hospitability industry or start their own small business.”
Summary of Community Grant recipients and programs 2022
1. Farnham Street Neighbourhood Learning Centre: Marvellous Mentors
The Marvellous Mentors Project will match volunteers from the community with low level English speakers to improve their levels of spoken language and written English. Mentors will provide support both on a one-on-one basis as well as support for teachers in the classroom.
2. Meadow Heights Learning Shop: Inspiring Connections to Education and Employment
Program to support culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and socio economically disadvantaged students to connect to education and employment pathways. The grant will be used to purchase computers to be used in class and/or distributed on loan to needy students to connect them to learning, literacy and numeracy, exam preparation, homework support and job seeking.
3. Angliss Neighbourhood House: Computer Culture in Community
Program will ensure classrooms are well equipped to empower the community with improved digital literacy, increased access to digital devices for migrant and CALD families, and reliable, affordable access to digital devices and digital literacy education.
4. Wingate Avenue Community Centre: Ready for Hospitality
Program will deliver a pre-accredited Ready for Hospitality course to culturally and linguistically diverse community members. Starting in semester two, the project aims to build education and employment pathways for CALD students, by providing accessible hospitality training in in-demand industries, for local community members.
5. Comm Unity Plus Neighbourhood House: Connect in Deer Park
Program will benefit the culturally and linguistically diverse community, made up primarily of new migrants, through providing them with opportunities and experiences otherwise out of their reach. It will give them an opportunity to connect with people, see new places, practice English skills and build their confidence.
6. Duke Street Community House: Podcast Training for Young People
Program will help improve mental health and wellbeing for young people while providing skills in media to enhance pathways into further education and training. The project will target marginalised young people 16-21 years old, residing, studying, working or connected to Braybrook/Sunshine areas, including newly arrived and refugee backgrounds, young people living with a disability, young carers and socioeconomically disadvantaged young people, using podcasts as an engagement tool.
7. Taylors Hill Youth & Community Centre: HOSPITALITY PATHWAYS – Creating career pathways to the Hospitality industry
Program is responding to the COVID-19 challenge and shortages it has created in the hospitality industry. It aims to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to attain sustainable employment in a variety of positions in the hospitality industry.
8. Kensington Neighbourhood House: Strong Foundations
Funds will help continue the activities of the Strong Foundations program until the end of 2023. The demand for the program has soared since term 4 2021, now supporting 20 students from Prep – Grade 2 with twice weekly homework and literacy support for children within the Kensington Housing Estate to help children reach literacy milestones.
9. Fraser Rise Children's and Community Centre: HOSPITALITY PATHWAYS – Creating career pathways to the Hospitality industry
Program is responding to the COVID-19 challenge and shortages it has created in the hospitality industry. It aims to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to attain sustainable employment in a variety of positions in the hospitality industry.
10. Banksia Gardens Community Services: Kenely Court Neighbourhood House Study Group
Study Group provides educational support for primary school children 6-12 years old at Kenley Court after school on Mondays during school term for up to 22 children, primarily refugee and newly arrived migrant children; however any child needing support is welcome.