Successful recipients announced for CVGT Employment’s 2024 Community Grants

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, CVGT Employment is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Community Grants program. This year, the annual grant program focuses on “Youth Focussed Career Supports,” echoing the organisation’s original mission from four decades ago when it was known as Central Victoria Group Apprenticeship Scheme Limited (CVGAS).

A total of $170,000 has been distributed among 34 community organisations across Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. These funds will support a wide array of initiatives designed to help youth in our communities overcome barriers and achieve their career goals.

We were so excited to receive applications from such an excellent and diverse cross-section of organisations. 

Mark Little
General Manager – Strategy and Communications, CVGT Employment

“The high quality of grant applications this year truly reflects the incredible work being done in our communities to support youth education, training, and employment.”

The grants have been awarded to a variety of projects, including:

• Community organisations that directly support youth education, training and employment
• Organisations that support youth with barriers to employment such as mental health, physical health, access to transport and learning to drive, housing, legal aid, employability skills, financial literacy, and life skills.

By supporting these initiatives, we can make a real difference in the lives of young people, helping them to overcome challenges and succeed in their careers.

Jason Russell
CEO, CVGT Employment

The CVGT Employment team is committed to building strong relationships and partnerships with the grant recipient organisations.

Over the next year, we look forward to sharing updates and stories from the projects and organisations our 2024 Community Grants have supported.

Some of the notable impacts include:

• 5 grants awarded to Indigenous organisations.
• 5 grants supporting services for disability, injury, or illness.
• 4 grants dedicated to initiatives specifically supporting women.

For more information about the CVGT Employment Community Grants program, please contact [email protected] or visit our 2024 Community Grants page.

About CVGT Employment

CVGT Employment has been supporting people to find meaningful work for 40 years. With a strong focus on community engagement, CVGT Employment supports initiatives that create positive change and improve the lives of individuals and communities.

The not-for-profit, for-purpose organisation has 128 locations across Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

2024 Community Grants – Recipients and projects

Organisation	Logo and website	Project Summary	CVGT Employment Region
Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare		Supporting youth in the region to access nutritious food – 200 young people will be able to receive $150 worth of food supplies.	Albury – Wodonga
Avenue Neighbourhood House @ Eley		Career guidance services to young people at risk of disengaging from education and future employment.	Bayside
Ballarat Foundation United Way Inc		Supporting the redevelopment of a community space to enable stronger and safer environment for young people to access an L2P driving program.	Ballarat
Banksia Gardens Association Incorporated		Supporting a youth focussed social enterprise called “Naughty Broady” enabling young people to turn their creativity into products to be sold at markets and online.	Broadmeadows
Barayamal		A First Nations organisation supporting entrepreneurship through technology and business education for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.	NSW and Victoria – multiple locations
Be Hers		Through the provision of mentoring and supports this project serves to support vulnerable youth at risk of being exploited.	Hobart
Central Ranges Local Learning & Employment Network (CRLLEN)		Funds will be used to support a creative careers expo night for youth called “Find Their Feet” that will assist in maintaining engagement in education.	Seymour
Cerebral Palsy Alliance		The Afternoon Club is designed to support young people with CP to build stronger connections combating isolation and mental health issues experienced by 1 in 3 young people with disability.	Liverpool
Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation		Strive2drive is a driver mentor for learners to achieve their hours needed to get a licence.	Smithton, Tasmania
Community News Hub Aboriginal Corporation	Website	Funds will be used to support a virtual Indigenous Youth Careers Expo as part of International Youth Day in 2025.	NSW and Victoria – multiple locations
COMPACT Inc		Funds will support the second stage of “Skills for Life” in two regional NSW locations to better provide supports for youth leaving school.	Wagga Wagga and surrounds
Concern Australia Welfare Inc		A social enterprise called “fiXit” providing entry level jobs for young people to translate into apprenticeships and traineeships.	Westgate and Bayside
Down Syndrome NSW		For the development of an Employment Connections program focussing on young people with Down Syndrome.	NSW – multiple locations
Dress for Success Tasmania		Targeted support to vulnerable young women building confidence and resilience and getting them ready for their next stage of their employment journey.	Tasmania
Empowered Women in Trades		Funds will support a 2 day pre-employment program for female and non-binary youth to explore careers in make dominated trades.	All regions
For Change Co.		Supporting “Pathways to Change” a dedicated careers coaching program to build individual strengths.	Metro Melbourne
Goulburn Murray Local Learning and Employment Network.		To develop a workplace self-audit program for employers to create culturally safe workplaces for young First Nations people as part of the Goulburn Regional Prosperity Plan.	Goulburn Murray
Greater Shepparton Foundation		Contributing to the “Lift Off Education Scholarship” program, supporting young people to transition to post-secondary education pathways.	Goulburn Murray
Gulaay Ltd		To develop a 2 day pilot program to assist career development for young First Nations people through confidence building and cultural grounding.	Wagga Wagga
Junction Support Services		Supporting young people to complete short TAFE courses and on the job training at the Close Collective Café, a social enterprise.	Wodonga
Kevin Heinze Grow		Supported pathways to mainstream employment for young people with intellectual disabilities in horticulture.	Metro Melbourne
Nourish Nation Foundation		A Youth and Food Literacy project aimed at culturally and linguistically diverse young people to develop skills in food systems, nutrition and healthy eating.	Bayside
On-Country Pathways		A driver-mentor program supporting young people with the costs associated with gaining a driver licence.	Goulburn Murray and Southern NSW
Partners in Ag		Supports young people in the Agriculture industry through a school-based program through the Wimmera Machinery Field Days.	Horsham
Prace Inc.		Employability supports for young people engaged in entry level jobs to pursue ongoing and more permanent employment.	Plenty and Goulburn Murray
Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania		Education programs enabling children in hospital and siblings to continue with school studies.	Victoria and Tasmania
Shepparton Access		Through a range of social enterprises supports are given to young people with disability and other disadvantages to gain employment skills.	Goulburn Valley
Social Enterprise, Employment & Diversity		SEED empowers young people with disability to develop employability skills and employment opportunities at award wages.	Hobart
Starting Point Neighbourhood House		Supporting their “Skills to Thrive” program to reach more people to build skills and overcome barriers to employment.	Launceston
Tanti Park Social Enterprises (HomeGround Cafe)		Supporting a community based Homeground Hospitality Traineeship program for at-risk youth.	Mornington Peninsula
Uniting Vic Tas (Limited)		Working with TAFE and young people with intellectual disability to build skills in hospitality when working in a pop-up restaurant.	Goulburn Murray
Wollert Community Pathshala Incorporated		Supporting a Bengali language education program with additional cultural and employment objectives.	Plenty
Youth, Family and Community Connections		Preparation for young people to undertake relevant training to access driver licences, aimed at youth with low levels of literacy.	Devonport and Burnie
Zoe Support Australia		Daily transport program for young mums to access community supports such as employment services and education.	Mildura