- Kameek decided to leave school when she was 17, feeling alone and disconnected after moving to Somerset away from her family and community.
- After starting with APM’s Transition to Work (TtW) program, Kameek met Youth Support Worker Kie, who helped her feel connected to her community back home.
Looking for connection and purpose
As a teenager, Kameek moved to Somerton from her home in northern Australia to Somerset, located near the Torres Strait Islands at the top of Cape York.
During her time at high school Kameek struggled with feelings of isolation and made the difficult decision to leave school altogether in year 11.
Being distant from her family and community had her feeling lost and uncertain.
After approaching APM mid-last year for help her find purpose and connection in her new area, she was registered in the Transition to Work program.
Transition to Work (TtW) is a youth-specific employment program, part of Workforce Australia. It directly supports disadvantaged young people aged 15-24, who are at risk of long-term unemployment.
It was difficult for Kameek to open up at first, as she was feeling closed off and experiencing anxiety.
Kameek felt that her next step was to seek employment or embark on further study, and she explained her social worker had set up a job interview for her.
Eager to support Kameek as best she could, Kie offered to attend the interview with her.
When it came time for the interview, Kameek greeted Kie with a hug, demonstrating that Kie’s presence made her feel comfortable and eased her nerves.
Unfortunately, she was not successful which affected her confidence.
Despite this, Kameek stuck with Kie and continued attending her regular appointments.
“I kept coming to APM because having a connection with Kie made me feel connected to my mob back home,” Kameek said.
Kie spotted a trainee position with the Stronger Smarter Institute specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Stronger Smarter are an organisation that offer training and thought leadership on improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Kie reverse marketed Kameek to Stronger Smarter and secured her an interview.
Kameek met with the CEO of Stronger Smarter Institute and walked out with an employment offer and a commencement date of the following week.
The best thing was that her new position meant she’d be working towards a Certificate III while employed.
After her first day at work, Kameek stopped by the APM office to tell Kie all about her experience.
She couldn’t stop thanking Kie for helping her to locate employment.
The role has helped her feel more connected in her new home and less isolated from her loved ones.
Kameek is looking forward to continuing her job and ultimately achieving a formal qualification through her traineeship.
What is Transition to Work?
The TtW program assists young people to develop practical skills to get a job or connect with education or training. With targeted engagement and flexibility TtW also assists young people overcome barriers to employment.
If you are a participant in Transition to Work, you have up to 18 months to progress with your employment or study goals, enabling you to progress through the program at your own pace.
Participants also have a dedicated Youth Support Worker to assist them with career planning, reverse marketing to employers and training organisations, assistance with referrals to community employers and support services.
The program works to address the barriers faced by young people, providing access to mental health services and a dedicated youth space in each office where they feel safe, supported, and able to engage.
There are a range of subsidies available to foster personal and professional development, including wage subsidies, training subsidies, and covering the cost of moving into employment or education.
Once employed, participants will receive 26 weeks of post-placement support to ensure it is sustainable.
Contact the Transition to Work team to find out how you or your business can support can take the first step towards meaningful employment.