Members of the Community Investment Committee, past SEED and present Thrive participants and Small Business and Employment Minister Natalie Suleyman celebrated the launch of the Thrive Hub in Seymour with Brotherhood of St Laurence staff.
Photo by
Billie Davern
SEED has bloomed into Thrive and its official launch was recently celebrated with a visit from a minister.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Last September marked the conclusion of the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s SEED Project, an initiative which supported women’s employment in Seymour.
Now, BSL’s local presence has transformed into the person-centred employment service Thrive Hub, making the Seymour district the fourth region in Victoria to be home to this initiative.
On Thursday, April 16, BSL staff celebrated the official launch of the new hub with past SEED and present Thrive participants, members of the Community Investment Committee — a Seymour-based network focused on local women’s economic empowerment and dignity — and Small Business and Employment Minister Natalie Suleyman.
In a round-table discussion, attendees heard about the impacts SEED had in the community and the transformative effect Thrive was already resulting in.
Ms Suleyman said she was honoured to attend the launch.
“No matter where you are in Victoria, accessing a job with the right support and programs is absolutely important,” she said.
“For people to continue on and actively participate, be part of community, is thanks to these sorts of programs.”
She said programs like this were “the gateway to more local jobs”.
“We're providing more opportunities for Victorians to enter the workforce because we know secure, meaningful employment supports local families and local economies,” Ms Suleyman said.
While the SEED Project had a focus on women’s empowerment, Thrive is open to all who face barriers to employment.
A key difference is the person-centred approach the new model takes.
The new and familiar faces behind the Thrive Project in Seymour.
Photo by
Billie Davern
“We don’t want to place people into any job. It’s about those meaningful, sustainable employment opportunities that really align with people’s aspirations,” senior Thrive Hub manager Courtney Green said.
“It’s really important to have that person-centred approach, to know the individual, understand where they want to go, and then working in community to find those opportunities.”
One-on-one coaching is provided to those accessing the hub, with a focus on uncovering the innate skills participants already have and boosting their confidence.
Former SEED project manager and current Thrive demonstration manager Penny Bohm said individualised support was what made this model stand out.
“The core is one-on-one support because, as we know, everybody has different needs and things going on in their life,” she said.
“That’s where we differ from a lot of other employment service providers — we’re able to spend the time with individuals to make sure that we’re treating them with dignity and respect and listening to their stories.”
Ms Green said she believed the work would have “long-term impact”.
“When we hear nice stories back, we know that hasn’t just had an impact on that person, it’s had an impact on their family, it will impact their future children,” she said.
It was hearing those nice stories that fuelled Ms Bohm’s passion for the job.
“To hear these stories is when you go, ‘wow, that’s why we do what we do’,” she said.
“That keeps you passionate, it warms your heart.
“You just see the growth in people — we’re very privileged to be able to do the work that we do.”
12°C