Media Releases

Doxa has today been recognised as a State Finalist in the charity category of the prestigious Telstra Business Awards for its work and commitment to helping young disadvantaged people access positive life experiences, education opportunities and employment pathways.

As one of the Victorian finalists, the not-for-profit organisation, which was established in 1972, was chosen for showcasing business excellence and best practice backed by passion, integrity and care.

Doxa CEO, Dr Stephen Silk, said this outstanding achievement is all thanks to the team who have each demonstrated unswerving commitment to make a difference in the lives of young Victorians facing disadvantage.

“I’m so proud of our team and what we have accomplished together – not just in recent years, but over the last four decades. We started from humble beginnings and we have worked hard to help and create opportunities for thousands of young Victorians from challenging life circumstances,” he said.

“We are one of the few Victorian not-for-profits to offer programming from primary school years, throughout secondary years seven to 12, and tertiary education. Through our programs, we share the knowledge, skills and experiences required to empower disadvantaged young people to realise their potential.”

Doxa was formed on the single principle that all children, regardless of their backgrounds, deserved to have opportunities and positive experiences outside the confines of their socio-economic standing. This principle of access and equality continues today.

“Our programs ensure that all young people, no matter their circumstance, have the opportunity to achieve personal greatness. Our purpose is to share knowledge, skills and experiences with disadvantaged young people to empower them to realise their potential,” Dr Silk said.

Now in its 25^th year, the Telstra Business Awards celebrate the achievements and entrepreneurial spirit of Australia’s most inspiring small and medium businesses and charities. State winners will be announced on the 28 August.

For more information on Doxa and its programs, visit www.doxa.org.au.

ENDS

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

A new program has been launched in Victoria to address some of the barriers of youth unemployment by assisting disadvantaged young people gain the valuable, practical skills they need to increase their chances of getting a foothold in today’s competitive job market.

Not-for-profit organisation, Doxa has launched Future Insights, targeting first and second year university students. Through the program, young people learn to become better equipped with important, professional skills that employers look for in a job candidate.

The program is delivered over three sessions and helps participants work on skills including personal branding, networking, communication and teambuilding.  At the end of the program, students will have a trusted professional network, gain unique insight into specific industries and have access to the right tools they need to find a professional mentor.

Doxa CEO, Dr Stephen Silk, said in today’s workforce environment young people are required to have an agile and versatile skillset to compete for valuable employment opportunities.

“Gone are the days where people were hired to do just one job. In the current competitive and fast-paced working environment, young people are expected to be more flexible and adaptable than ever before when it comes to their roles and skillsets,” he said.

Youth unemployment continues to be a major issue within Australia, with statistics showing no signs of improvement, leaving many young people feeling bleak about their futures.

“The number of unemployed young people across Australia remains at critical levels. Young Victorians face many hurdles when it comes to finding work after they graduate from university, and it’s even more difficult for disadvantaged young Victorians who have little to no access to resources including trusted mentors and professional connections,” Dr Silk said.

“Families and people with lower socio-economic backgrounds often have poor access to education and have fewer opportunities to seek on-the-job training and develop solid networks.

“Doxa is committed to investing in young people obtain not only valuable education, but also meaningful employment once they graduate from university. We created this program because we know that young people have so much potential and we want to help them realise that. They are the ones shaping our futures and we want to help them overcome the barriers they face,” he said.

Doxa is a Victorian not-for-profit organisation that provides programs for young people so that everyone can access positive life experiences, educational opportunities and employment pathways.

To get involved or for more information on Doxa’s Future Insights program, visit www.doxa.org.au.

ENDS

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

Arif Hazara was presented as a Semi Finalist in the First National Real Estate Leadership Award by Jenny Mikakos MP, Minister for Families & Children, Minister for Youth Affairs at the 2017 Victorian Young Achiever Awards Presentation ceremony held at Flemington – The Event Centre on Friday 26th May. Over 500 guests were in attendance at the Gala event.

The nine category winners were:

• Laura Pintur, 24 of Mount Eliza – Saward Dawson Community Service and Social Impact Award
• Morgan Ranieri, 27 of Brunswick East – Bartercard Online Achievement Award
• Dr Sumeet Walia, 28 of Melbourne – Victoria University Research Impact Award
• Lisa Cheney, 29 of Fitzroy North – The Coffee Club Arts and Fashion Award
• Y-House Foundation Junior Committee, 25 of Elsternwick – The Victorian Government Group Achievement in the Community Award
• Alphonse Mulashe, 18 of Norlane – CFA Volunteer Excellence Award
• Mark McDonald, 24 of Melbourne – WFI Insurance Small Business Achiever Award
• Jessie-Anne Kenworthy, 23 of Geelong – Bart ‘N’ Print Health and Wellbeing Award
• Nick Pearce, 23 of Box Hill – First National Real Estate Leadership Award

Laura Pintur was later announced as the 2017 Victorian Young Achiever of the Year, chosen from the nine winners. The category winners each received $1,000 into an account in their name from Bank of Melbourne, a $1,000 Bartercard Account and a magnificent trophy. Laura received an additional $2,000 flight voucher from Jetstar and a State trophy.

Arif Hazara, 21 of Dandenong speaks at schools about issues facing refugees and asylum seekers. His advocacy resulted in 2,000 additional young refugee’s access to TAFE courses. Arif was a youth delegate at the first UN-affiliated Global Refugee Youth Consultations.

Further information about Arif can be obtained by phoning the Awards office on 9720 1638 or by emailing vicyaa@awardsaustralia.com

The Victorian Young Achiever Awards began in 2012 with the purpose to acknowledge, encourage and most importantly promote the positive achievements of all young people up to and including 29 years of age. The awards showcase the achievements of young Victorians, and pay tribute to their vision, innovation and commitment to contributing to their community.

Victorian not-for-profit organisation, Doxa is calling on companies across the state to support and change the lives of high-achieving young Australians from disadvantaged backgrounds by becoming a Cadetship Program partner.

The Cadetship Program supports young people from challenging life circumstances to complete university and gain the skills they need for an employable future. Doxa has identified 120 first-year undergraduates committed to completing their education and realising their professional career goals.

Doxa, General Manager Partnerships and Corporate Affairs, Alison Polyik, said the organisation is looking for 120 companies to support these talented and highly motivated students, give them a fresh start and allow them to put their life challenges aside as they move towards a brighter future.

“The students are from lower socio-economic backgrounds and are committed to seeking a better future by completing their university education,” she said.

“Almost all are from culturally diverse families, including from refugee and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island backgrounds and about 33 per cent come from rural and regional Victoria.

“Companies can play a vital role in their journey – one which many young people describe as life-changing.  Our cadetships are more than a scholarship or internship. It is a holistic approach to the development of a young person and giving them professional opportunities they otherwise would not be able to access on their own,” Ms Polyik said.

Doxa supports Cadetship Program partners by providing a shortlist of talented applicants relevant to their sector, building a learning and development framework, providing mentoring and recruitment support as well as on-boarding advice and offering opportunities for employees to participate in the Cadet’s Professional Development Program.

Since 1993, more than 400 young people have participated in the Doxa Cadetship Program. It is open to Year 12 students transitioning into university and is a three to five year program, depending on the length of the degree the student is undertaking.

Studies show that for all university students from disadvantaged backgrounds, only one in three finish their degree. This compares to 88 per cent of Doxa cadets, who also have the confidence and professional skills to support their transition into professional life.

Doxa is a Victorian not-for-profit organisation that provides programs for young people so that everyone can access positive life experiences, educational opportunities and employment pathways.

To get involved or for more information on the Doxa Cadetship Program, visit www.doxa.org.au.

Young disadvantaged people from refugee backgrounds are getting their first taste of the Australian bush through a three-day trekking expedition in the Goldfields and Kooyoora State Park in central Victoria, near Bendigo.

The Journey program, run by Doxa – a Victorian not-for-profit operating out of Malmsbury – aims to build teamwork skills and personal skills such as confidence, a sense of belonging and connectedness which they take with them back into the community.

Mohammed, a young man attending Doxa’s Journey Program said it “gave us a good opportunity and support to learn new things about the animals, the hills, the mountains. Because we are refugees and come from countries like Africa we don’t know about things like that.”

Doxa run programs for disadvantaged young people from across rural, regional and metropolitan Victoria.
Stephen Silk, Doxa Chief Executive Officer, Doxa says: “It is wonderful to be able to show newly arrived young people, particularly those with such traumatic backgrounds, the local environment. It’s so special to witness them sharing stories round the campfire at Melville Caves or spotting their first kangaroo out in Kooyoora.”

The young people attending the Journey Program will come from newly arrived or refugee backgrounds. Participants will have experienced trauma, displacement, financial hardship and missed out on crucial years of education. English will be an additional language for them. They will have never visited rural central Victoria.

The aim of the Journey Program is to give these young people some fun, encourage social cohesion, teach them about the local environment and Indigenous culture. It’s also designed to encourage social cohesion, confidence and connectedness between different cultures.

Belinda Rowse
03 9046 8200
browse@doxa.org.au

[eventbutton text=’Media Statement’ link=’https://dev.doxa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Journey-Camp-Media-Release-2016_01.pdf’]