Youth Programs
STREAT is a food systems social enterprise that provides supported pre-vocational training and holistic personal support to young people aged 16-24 who need a hand. We do this through our youth programs, Taste of STREAT, Fast Track To Work, Paid To Work and the Parkville Cafe Program. Learn more about our approach.
ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS
In our latest video, our awesome youth programs team (pictured left) give you a tour of our Collingwood site, and explain more about STREAT’s range of programs for young people. You’ll see our garden, cafe, bakery, kitchen, youth space, therapy dog, Magic, the people who work at STREAT, and more.
Taste of STREAT
Taste of STREAT workshops are half-day workshops for young people interested in the Fast Track To Work program. The workshops provide young people and their workers with a taste of STREAT including making and eating delicious pizza – all whilst learning about our programs, what the program involves and the employment opportunities available after graduation. These fun workshops are designed for young people accompanied by their worker. Download more information here.
Fast Track To Work
Fast Track To Work is a supported 9-week program for young people facing barriers to employment who are seeking work in hospitality (cafes, restaurants, kitchens). This program includes workplace experience, fun and interactive work-readiness workshops, social activities and individual case support. Our work readiness curriculum covers topics like self-care, basic living skills, budgeting, healthy relationships, teamwork, emotional regulation, legal rights and interview skills. Find out more, or keep reading to learn about our Refugee Fast Track To Work program.
Paid To Work
Paid to Work is a 9-month program offering young people who complete our Fast Track To Work program an opportunity to transition into 20-25 hours a week of paid employment in hospitality with our employment partners. Graduates who progress into Paid To Work receive intensive post-placement support from STREAT’s Youth Transitions Team. They’re also paid award wages (or above), receive on-the-job training, and are often encouraged to continue employment with our partner employers once the formal program has completed. Find out more.
Parkville Cafe program
One third (30%) of STREAT trainees have had contact with the Youth Justice system. We operate the Parkville STREAT cafe, located in the Parkville Youth Justice Precinct. Young people come on day release to do training and gain valuable work experience in a real cafe. Our staff train young people from behind the wall in hospitality and work-readiness skills before they transfer out of custody to one of our Collingwood programs. Learn more about our programs.
Refugee Work Skills Program
STREAT has always welcomed refugee applicants. We understand that there are often practical language, transport, and numeracy barriers that make it hard to prepare for a job. Courtesy of funding from the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs, STREAT is currently working with Melbourne Polytechnic’s Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) classes to offer a ‘Refugee Work Skills Program’ . This is a modified offering of our highly successful ‘Fast Track to Work Program’
The aim of our ‘Refugee Work Skills Program’ is to increase work readiness and employment opportunities for refugees and humanitarian entrants on eligible visas. This program prepares and equips trainees with the essential knowledge and skills to transition into the workforce with greater confidence and aptitude. As with all trainees at STREAT, our goal is for young refugee and humanitarian entrants to feel a sense of belonging, with a healthy sense of self, a sense of home, and a sense of purpose in their work.
For more details on how STREAT may be able to work with you and your current cohort, call or email our STREAT Youth Programs team: (03) 9629 4222 or [email protected]
STREAT is a child safe organisation.
STREAT is a child safe organisation committed to promoting the wellbeing of children and young people with diverse backgrounds and a range of lived experiences. We are committed to being a safe and friendly space for children and young people while recognising, respecting and promoting their rights.
All people who conduct work for STREAT, paid or unpaid, are expected to act ethically to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. Download our child safety policy.