Northcott NEXT program celebrates its achievements

Recently, the Northcott NEXT program held a breakfast event at Parramatta Leagues to celebrate what the program has achieved so far, recognise customer achievements and employers who have been part of this program.

Forty-six people comprising of NEXT customers, Northcott staff, including Liz Forsyth, Andrew Kew, and NEXT staff and external employers who have worked with NEXT and Northcott attended the event.

“The event was an opportunity to celebrate our customers achievements. 25 customers attended the event. They received an award and gold key USB. You could clearly see how proud the customers were of themselves. We couldn’t have done this without the support of Bunnings, Urban Theatre Projects, The Salvation Army, Parramatta Leagues and the generosity of the Citi Foundation, and we are extremely grateful and proud to work with all of them,” says Josh, NEXT Program Coordinator.

What is NEXT?

NEXT is funded by a Citi Foundation grant through their global Pathways to Progress program.

With this grant money, the Northcott NEXT program is providing personalised services that empower school leavers with a disability to gain the skills required to transition to their next life stage. The grant has been provided more specifically under the Citi Foundation’s Capacity Building and Planning stream. This has allowed Northcott to be equipped and resourced to effectively support young people with disability to develop their work readiness and progress through pathways to future employment.

What has the NEXT program achieved so far?

So far, the NEXT program has conducted the following activities:

• Business roundtables with external employers to build relationships, consult with them about their needs in the workplace and discuss taking on people with a disability for work experience and paid employment.  
• NEXT open days for 4 sites which were Seven Hills, Parramatta, Hornsby and Penrith
• Northcott Clothing Market Days
• Work experience opportunities with Bunnings and Urban Theatre Projects

What’s next for NEXT?

Future Fit Boot Camp has been created for the final 6 months to build employability skills on a higher level and give our customers the best opportunity to move into paid employment are their Vocational Skills program.