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45 young people shortlisted for Cadetship

Current first and second year Doxa Cadets

We have now interviewed around 100 amazing young people and shortlisted 45 for our 2018 Cadetship program.

These young people are resilient, determined, ambitious and incredibly talented. They’ve all got a place at university; they just lack the financial backing and professional network needed to succeed.

Students may have come from a low socio-economic background, have had tough times at home, come from single parent families or be from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background. Many are the first in their family to attend university.

Every year we match as many young people as we can with a sponsor company to support them throughout university, and we are always looking for new program partners.

10 places have already been found, with 35 more spaces available.

If you work for a company that has a CSR alignment and is interested in supporting a young person throughout their degree with a work placement, a mentor and financial assistance, then please get in touch: cadet@doxa.org.au

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Students complete four-year University Pathways Program

Heart-warming feedback from our Year 12 UPP participants

January 2018 saw the delivery of the final University Pathways Program session to our Year 12 cohort.

These young people are the first group to have participated in the full four-year consecutive program from Year 9 through til Year 12 – a great achievement for everyone involved! During this time, they have developed their communication skills, confidence and conversational capabilities in order to present their best professional selves.

Understanding life at University, insights into the professional world and skills development are some of the key outcomes of UPP. Students learn about values-based decision making, enterprise skills, study skills, success strategies, health & wellbeing, resilience and goal setting across the four-year program.

Workplace and university visits for this group in 2018 included: BT Financial Group, The Big Issue and Swinburne University. At the networking dinner students developed professional connections with individuals from Telstra, Russell Kennedy, Citipower/Powercor, Arnold Bloch Leibler and more.

It has been so wonderful to see the growth and development of these young people, as we support them through an often turbulent and challenging time in their lives, and on to brighter futures.

Some heart-warming feedback from our Year 12 University Pathways Program students:

“In these last four years, I have made changes to my learning and lifestyle from advice I have received from Doxa and I changedto be a better person. I became confident!”

“This is an enlightening experience about completing Year 12 and beyond. This will help me complete my studies.”

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Maryborough Advertiser – Students Take Part In Summer Camp

Publication

Maryborough District Advertiser

Program

Holiday Camp

Summary

A group of young people from the Maryborough area attended Doxa Holiday Camp in Malmsbury this year.

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Guiding the next generation: why I volunteer for Doxa

Alessia Roujeinikova, Doxa Alumnus

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and the young people who participate in our programs. Alessia Roujenikova is a Doxa Cadet Alumnus who knows all about this, having spent so much of her spare time guiding the next generation at Doxa’s University Pathways Program this summer holidays, as well as volunteering on other programs throughout the last year. We caught up with Alessia to tell us more.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hi, I am Alessia. I’ve recently completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Monash University majoring in Accounting after attending Footscray City College, Melbourne’s inner West. I was very fortunate to be offered a place on Doxa’s Cadetship program and a work placement with Baillieu Holst Ltd.

I greatly enjoyed my four years with the financial services firm, acquiring knowledge and experience in a professional environment to help set up a foundation for my career path.

Since then, I’ve secured a full time graduate role at KPMG in the Audit Assurance Risk Division.

Alessia featured in the Herald Sun in 2017

Why do you volunteer at Doxa?

During the last two years of my degree, I studied part time to create more free time to focus on my wellbeing, get back into my hobbies and take up volunteering opportunities with Doxa.

I decided to dive-in on the opportunity to be a Team Leader on a University Pathways Program (UPP) and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made yet. Doxa staff were there to support me in my growth personally and professionally, so it felt super rewarding in-turn being able to impart my experiences and knowledge to younger students in that mentoring capacity and give back.

“I wish I had guidance from students in their university years to tell me back then what I know now.”

I continue to come back for numerous reasons; growth in leadership skills, having lots of fun, meeting the other amazing team leaders and most importantly, being continuously inspired by the young individuals that go to these UPPs with a hunger to learn.

Since that initial opportunity, I’ve volunteered on: Future Focus, Future Insights and the Peer-to-Peak Performance Program. I hope to continue to make a positive contribution in future years for these programs as a Doxa Alumnus.

Volunteering as a Team Leader on UPP

What are your top 3 tips for UPP students unsure of what to do next?

  1. Study in the area/field you are interested inI believe that if you follow what you love doing, you’ll find your calling.
  2. Do not have a “year 12 is the be-all and end-all” mindsetWhat you choose to study in year 12 does not determine your outcomes in life, they are moreso a stepping stone into uni that opens you up to a world of opportunities.
  3. Ask LOTS of questionsA lot of what we learn is not in theory, but off our experiences in interacting with others.

“I’ve seen so many UPP students learn so much from their discussions with networkers and team leaders, helping broaden their mindset on opportunities that exist out there and how to incorporate their interests with those opportunities.”

UPP students and volunteers before a networking dinner

Share a favourite memory from a recent UPP you volunteered at?

In the last UPP session, I ran a session for the students advocating the important of taking care of mental and physical health. During the UPP farewell as the students were heading off, a couple of them personally approached me and thanked me for the impact that my session had made on them and how they’ve learned a lot on such topic that is usually never addressed at this stage of their life. It was truly heart-warming and is what makes me so motivated to help mentor young individuals.

Thanks so much to Alessia for sharing her thoughts and experiences, and to all our amazing volunteers. We literally couldn’t do it without you. If you’d like to volunteer at Doxa yourself or would like to know any more about our programs drop us a line at info@doxa.org.au

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Lakes Post – Youth Head To The City

Publication

The Lakes Post

Program

Holiday Camp

Summary

A group of young people from Lakes Entrance Primary School attended Doxa Holiday Camp in the City this year.

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Maryborough youth get opportunity to attend Doxa Holiday Camp in Malmsbury

It’s an exciting start to the year for a group of young people in Grades 4-6 from the Dunolly and Rheola area near Maryborough. This week a group of nine children from the area are getting a welcomed summer break and heading to Doxa’s residential Holiday Camp in the bush outside of Malmsbury.

The 5-day specialised program incorporates activities ranging from horsemanship and challenge by choice activities (high ropes and a climbing wall) to cooking sessions and even circus skills! In addition to this, there are also arts & crafts activities, gym games, river exploring, archery and bush walking.

Amongst all the fun and friendship-making activities, the students will get to experience the Australian bush, learn about the local environment and Indigenous history of the area.

Through participating in Doxa’s Holiday Camp program, these Maryborough children benefit from a range of enriching experiences. They also build self-esteem and confidence, improve their positive connections to peers and adults and get a well-deserved opportunity to have fun, laughter and joy.

Holiday Camp is an exciting opportunity for young people from challenging life circumstances from across Victoria to experience fun and learning activities in the Australian bush.

Ends.

Media contact: Belinda Rowse |browse@doxa.org.au | 03 9046 8207

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Lakes Entrance youth head to the city to attend Doxa Holiday Camp in Melbourne

It’s an exciting start to the year for a group of young people in Grades 4-6 from Lakes Entrance Primary School in East Gippsland. This week, a group of seven children from the school are getting a welcomed summer break and heading to the big smoke to attend Doxa’s residential Holiday Camp in Melbourne CBD.

The 5-day program incorporates activities ranging from kayaking on the Yarra River to participating in a cooking session with Masterchef-style judging and paddle boarding in St Kilda. The children also get a chance to test their confidence on the indoor rock climbing wall and learn new skills at RMIT’s SIN Radio station where they learn how to design and produce their own radio program.

Amongst all the fun and friendship-making activities, the Lakes Entrance Primary School students will get to experience the city, often for the first time. By catching a tram, visiting iconic Melbourne sites and going to restaurants they will benefit from learning about urban life and broadening their horizons.

Through participating in Doxa’s Holiday Camp program, these Lakes Entrance children benefit from a range of enriching experiences. They also build self-esteem and confidence, improve their positive connections to peers and adults and get a well-deserved opportunity to have fun, laughter and joy.

Holiday Camp is an exciting opportunity for young people from challenging life circumstances in rural and regional Victoria to experience fun and learning activities in Melbourne CBD.

Ends.

Media contact: Belinda Rowse |browse@doxa.org.au | 03 9046 8207

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Pro Bono – Development Programs

 

Publication

ProBono Australia

Program

Development Programs

Summary

Not-for-profit organisation Doxa provides programs to support disadvantaged young Victorians through their education, and they have gathered tips and insights from top career and financial coaches to assist young people looking to enter university, vocational studies or the workforce.

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Victorian high school graduates encouraged to maintain good finances, strive for commitment and adaptability

Good financial management, commitment and adaptability are important skills Victorian high school leavers must adopt to thrive in today’s world of work and life beyond secondary school, according to some of the state’s top career and financial coaches.

The end of secondary schooling is a major milestone for many young Victorians as they make the transition to adulthood and prepare to enter university, vocational studies or the workforce. Not-for-profit organisation, Doxa, provides programs for disadvantaged young Victorians to support them through their education.

“This period is often stressful for many young people and can become a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s particularly challenging for disadvantaged young Victorians who often struggle with finding and keeping meaningful work once they leave high school and enter the workforce,” said Doxa CEO, Steve Clifford.

To assist young Victorians navigate this challenging and exciting stage of their lives, Doxa has gathered tips and insights from top coaches including Finance Academy Australia, Heart Sparks and TRIPOD Enterprise Education. Each organisation provides self confidence, career, and financial management workshops across Doxa’s educational opportunity and employment pathways programs.

Keep your personal finances in check!

For many high school leavers, the transition to the workforce will become the first time that they will earn a salary. Chinmay Ananda, of Finance Academy Australia (AAA), assists disadvantaged youth to effectively handle personal finance throughout university as part of Doxa’s Cadetship Program.

“It’s important for young people to know how to handle finances once they start earning a wage. I always tell young people to always make more money than you spend. To know if you are making more money than you are spending, first you need to know how much you are spending. Remember, you shouldn’t make assumptions when it comes to finance; you should know the exact dollar amount,” he said.

Doxa Cadet and RMIT University Student, Kim Quinones, said as part of her professional development training at Doxa, she learnt about financial management and planning. “It’s been great to gain some new skills and guidance on how to deal with bills and manage your spending. Throughout my high school and university experience, financial planning is something we don’t get as part of our education, so it has been a big help for me,” she said.

Aim for commitment, not just motivation

Commitment is often viewed as a quality rather than a skill. Many young people believe they need more motivation, when in fact, first and foremost, they need to tap into a deeper commitment to what they really want.

“Being committed is a skill that can be chosen, increased and learned. It’s about continuing to show up when things feel hard and motivation is waning, especially in challenging instances where you are being turned down for jobs or further study,” said Johanna Parker, Life, Confidence and Speaker Coach, Speaker and MC at Heart Sparks.

Adapt your skills from one opportunity to the next

No matter what industry you land in, jobs and roles are ever changing. Young people need to not only embrace change, but be flexible in their dreams and aspirations.

“Sometimes to get from A to B, you might have to swing all the way past Z first. Those who embrace change and adapt their skill from one opportunity to the next will have a huge advantage in the future world of work. Whatever skills you learn in one opportunity or job will take you forward to the next, and use for the rest of your life. Understanding how these skills transfer is key to success,” said Betsy Tolmer, Director of TRIPOD Enterprise Education.

Former Doxa Cadet and now full-time Sales and Marketing Assistant at Melbourne-based agency Anecdote, Shelley Fenech, added that being able to communicate articulately is important in the workplace and this is something she’s developed during her time as a Doxa Cadet.

“Something they don’t teach you at university is that conveying your message in the most efficient and quickest way possible is highly valuable in a busy world. Having emotional intelligence is also crucial. The way you interact and work with others is super valuable. These relationships are what can foster your potential or hinder it,” said Ms Fenech.

Many of Doxa’s programs help disadvantaged youth gain the support, skills and confidence they need to be strong contenders in the workforce and active contributors to a university community. It is one of but a few Victorian organisations providing programs to support disadvantaged young people across key development and life cycle stages from primary school right through to university or post secondary school studies and employment. For more information on Doxa and its programs, visit www.doxa.org.au.

ENDS

 

Media contact: Jackie Smiles | jackie@flourishpr.com | 03 9092 8449

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My time as a Cadet

Hi everyone! My name is Tom. I’m a 19-year old Doxa Cadet. Some of you may recognise me from my vlog series on Doxa’s YouTube channel. For those who don’t, I’m in my first year studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne. As one of my key focuses in my degree is media and communications, I was placed within the Partnerships & Corporate Affairs team at Doxa for my Cadetship work placement.  In just a few months, I’ve grown my professional skills, learnt new technical skills and made some great connections in the process. Here are some of the highlights from my year as a Doxa Cadet…

Starting as a Cadet

Entering the workplace for the first time was a pretty daunting experience. Having come fresh out of high school and being in my first week at University, I found that working in an office was very different from anything that I had experienced previously. My new role was to assist the Partnerships & Corporate Affairs team at Doxa, working in communications, stakeholder management, media and social media.

When I’m nervous I try to treat the situation like an ice-cold pool – sometimes you just have to jump in without hesitating

I was nervous as the beginning of my placement drew closer, and even more so on my first day! But it didn’t take long until I began to feel more a part of the Doxa team, and became more used to working in an office. After nearly a year now at Doxa, I’ve learned so much about office dynamics and the various tasks I work on, and now it’s nearly second nature.

Tom pictured in the middle at LinkedIn HQ, Melbourne.

Learning, learning and more learning!

The beginning of my placement proved to be a significant learning curve, in which I developed a whole range of new communication and technical skills, and gained a bunch of new experiences in a short period of time. I found myself working with programs such as WordPress when managing the Doxa website, (Salesforce when managing stakeholder communications and database tasks) and a variety of social media platforms (make sure you like/follow Doxa on Facebook, Twitter and Insta!). My practical experience with tasks such as social media analytics also helped to give me a practical background when we covered similar topics at university, which was super helpful!

 

Project management at PwC

As part of my time in the PCA team, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to complete a Project Management training course at PwC, which was a unique and helpful opportunity. We’ve all seen the looming corporate buildings on Southbank in the CBD, but I’d never really been in one before, and it was an eye-opening experience.

The two-part course was very high quality and thorough, introducing me in particular to strategies and processes to undertake new projects in new and helpful ways. I definitely took a lot of tips away from this course, and still implement some of them regularly into everyday life. One is an app called Trello, which I use to organize my study and assignments – check it out!

Project management training at PwC

Learning about PR, Media & Comms

Through Doxa, I also attended a workshop for media students hosted by Flourish PR (a media and communications company which Doxa works with to promote our brand). The workshop provided me with a valuable insight into the world of PR and Media. We had the opportunity to hear from all of the people who work at Flourish PR, including our stellar PR liaison Jackie Smiles and their CEO, Angela Ceberano.

Some of the main things that I took away from the workshop were the importance of going the extra mile in your work, tips on how to work best with clients, as well as some inspiring and funny stories about how each of them got to where they are today in their careers.

The wisdom of “starting slow to go fast” applies to a lot of things, from planning projects to personal well-being. One of the most important things that I’ve learned is the importance of balance and seeking to love what you do, even if you need to take a step back to figure out how you might achieve that.

Conclusion

I’m really thankful for the opportunity that I’ve had to be a Cadet at Doxa. Through it I’ve gained a whole range of new skills and experiences, and I truly believe that I’ve matured and grown as a person through it. I’m excited to see what lies ahead, both personally and professionally, and I’m sure that I’ll continue to draw from what I’ve learned here for years to come. Thanks Doxa!

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