A three-year report, ‘COVID-19 and Young People's Education and Employment Aspirations: A Study in Geelong’ revealed increasing numbers of young people undertaking unscored VCEs or seeking alternative pathways, while school absenteeism continued to rise.

Key report recommendations included increasing awareness and support for non-traditional education, training and employment pathways. The report also encouraged flexibility in career exploration and support for engagement and training through community-based initiatives.

To help address the issue, the Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation has awarded a three-year grant of $450,000 to Common Ground Project’s THRIVE program. The program will deliver 100,000 hours of hands-on learning opportunities, reaching 4,500 teenagers.

Common Ground Project is a regenerative farm and social enterprise that promotes food security by creating fair access to locally grown, healthy food. THRIVE is its training and employment pathways program in food, farming, and hospitality.

Imogen Thomas, CEO of Common Ground Project, has been with the organisation for six years, starting as founding board member.

“The research paper provides strong evidence that the latent impacts of pandemic lockdowns are affecting young people and their engagement in mainstream education, but we have also heard from partner organisations that there is a particular challenge for young people in the area,” Imogen said.

“Geelong is the fastest growing region in Victoria, due both to people moving from Melbourne and overseas migration. The population is outpacing the number of opportunities that exist in education and employment.

“A lot of young people feel that mainstream education is not right for them or doesn’t respond to their specific needs. Providing flexible, for-purpose, nature-based learning is key to addressing the gap.

“THRIVE is uniquely suited to Greater Geelong area because of the region’s agricultural connections and leverages the area's natural assets.”

 Some participants attend workshops that combine hands-on learning in food systems, farming, hospitality, and climate adaptability, while others take part in longer work experience, placements, and internships.

 “With our onsite farm, commercial kitchen, local hospitality and horticulture networks, and expertise, we are providing a lasting solution to the barriers that hinder education and employment,” Imogen said. “There has already been significant demand and high engagement, with more to come.”

The long-term plan is for the THRIVE program to be sustained by a mix of produce sales, catering, hosted events and corporate volunteer bookings.

 “During the grant period, we’ll focus on collecting outcomes and stories to show what does or doesn’t work,” Imogen said. “This will help us make a compelling case as a trusted pathway and support our case to extend our funding agreement with the Department of Families, Fairness & Housing as part of their multi-year food security investment.”

Teenage student Billy (not his real name) discovered the THRIVE program after a day tour earlier this year. 

“After the visit, I kept bugging my teachers to get me back there,” he said. “I wanted to gain experience and knowledge of farming and horticulture.”

Billy’s nine weeks of work experience opened his mind to future options, including finding work in a restaurant and completing a farm internship.

“The program is so calming and rewarding for me - to be out of the classroom and into the fresh air and sun is a blessing. The mentors and participants I met are all so nice and supportive, even when you don’t know what you’re doing.”

Find out more about Common Ground Project.