Commencing in October 2002, the future CREATE@Work began operations under the Community Building Initiative, Neighbourhood Renewal that was linked to the Community Jobs Program (CJP). As a previous auspice of CJP, CREATE was well placed to deliver a program that focussed on outdoor works and horticultural activities.
As the program developed, CREATE formed closer links with the Department of Human Services, Office of Housing thus enabling CREATE to procure assets that would ensure that all project activities would be carried out in a professional manner within a safe working environment for all supervisors and CJP participants.
During this time, CREATE demonstrated its commitment to pursue the development of a community enterprise that would enhance employment and educational opportunities for individuals residing in the northern suburbs of Geelong and to further to this to continue to utilise the assets obtained during the CJP Neighbourhood Renewal program of 2002/2003. Negotiations with the key stakeholders began in December of 2002 where some initial scope of works where identified for contracted services to the Office of Housing.
CREATE also began exploring options for additional enterprise activities within what was quickly identified as a building that could potentially be multi purposed and house a diverse range of projects. A demographic study was carried out, which identified specific areas of community need. It was determined that both welfare and educationally based programs that could provide employment and training opportunities for individuals, whose pathways to work and further education are currently non-existant or extremely limited would be developed and implemented.
CREATE recognised that for the enterprise to be self-sustaining in the medium to longer term (18 months from inception), there was a definite need for multiple users of the enterprise especially where all project areas are housed within one centre. this would ensure that there is maintained a diversity of programs yet there would exist strong linkages to each program. By virtue of the different program profiles and their ability to maximise staff, student and volunteers the enterprise would gain public support.
In February 2003 and with the support of the Department of Human Services Office of Housing Barwon South Western Region, CREATE began the development the concept of this enterprise "Our Community Our Enterprise" this is now known as CREATE@Work. in addition CREATE negotiated partnerships with other community agencies in particular for the material aid project and for the establishment of a volunteer base for all associated areas.
The critical outcomes for the project are indeed most and foremost, the development and enhancement of employment and educational pathways for residents within the northern suburbs of Geelong. In addition to this primary focus, the organisation has considered a broader picture of community development to incorporate opportunities for community volunteering, a link to the school communities, alignment to other state and federal government initiatives and a holistic approach to service delivery from within the enterprise site itself.
This holistic approach includes direct employment within the enterprise and represents some 8 individuals being employed at any one time on a rotational 6-month basis. They will be employed in vocational streams that will range through retail operations, office administration, building and outdoor works, horticulture, training facilitation, and workplace assessing. It is envisaged that all 8 individuals will come from several intakes of CJP's. this means that they are employed from Neighbourhood Renewal areas primarily from within the Northern suburbs of Geelong.
Education will be well represented as a critical partner within the enterprise. Educational provision will be provided for over 32 young people per year as part of the School Based New Apprenticeships, the Futures for Young Adults enterprise component and potentially VCAL and Youth Pathways Program students. These activities will provide meaningful links with local schools where community based provision of education shall embrace the mainstream pathway as yet another real learning alternative for young people.
