Wollondilly Council is offering vital support to local young people getting ready to enter the workforce with a new project to help develop workplace skills, grow confidence and understand the job application process.

The Youth Upskill project is funded by Resilience NSW in response to the 2019/2020 bushfires which impacted communities in the Wollondilly Shire.

Many local youth had their study and work plans interrupted by the bushfires, as well floods, storms and Covid-19 lockdowns. The Youth Upskill project aims to support them to study and seek employment while offering opportunities to engage in new activities to encourage healthy lifestyles.

The project has kicked off with a Study Drop In: an online Zoom study session catering particularly to HSC students needing study help following the disruptions of the last two years.

For those getting ready to apply for a job, resume support is on offer until Friday 19 November in the form of an online boot camp where young people can get advice from a career guidance consultant. Participants will leave with a professional resume which will help them feel confident to apply for work.

To assist young people looking to get into the hospitality industry, Council will be offering a two day training course for Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) to be hosted within the Wollondilly Shire.

Interested participants will need to register online for the course which will run in December 2021 and again in early 2022.

Now that Covid restrictions are easing, a one day Barista & Customer Service Course will be on offer early next year.

The training is all free of charge to young people aged 14-24 who live in the Wollondilly Shire. To assist young people with transport to these training activities, Council is offering Opal cards which can be collected from the Wollondilly Library or mobile library.

Planning is also under way to provide a new Interview Support Package, which will include a $20 Kmart card to help young people dress for interviews and a $10 Library card to assist with the printing of resumes.

To find out more about what is available and register for these events as they become available, head to the Dilly YAC website and Dilly YAC Facebook page.

Call Council’s Community Project Officer on 4677 1100 if you have any enquiries.