Our Approach

Jobs4U2 is committed to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, providing them with the tools and opportunities to prevent unemployment and achieve long-term career success throughout their lives.

With over 25 years of experience and proven results, our approach is centred on the following:

1. Focus on work readiness for careers employment, not work placement

The employment and training program means participants have support up to the age of 25, whether it be through a once-a-month check-in or assisting them to complete a cover letter or resume. It matters, and I know I appreciated it when I was on the Ganbina program.”

– Dayna Seymour, Ganbina Employment and Training Program Project Officer and Ganbina program graduate

Ganbina’s approach prioritises preparing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people for the workforce by developing essential skills during their education.

Instead of concentrating on finding immediate job placements, the program ensures participants are work-ready, equipped to meet the demands of modern employers by the time they complete their schooling. This focus on readiness fosters careers employment success.

2. Identify the root causes of the challenges

So many of the kids didn’t have birth certificates.

– Julie Trevaskis, Ganbina’s first treasurer 1997-2013

Ganbina acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people face challenges beyond just staying in school and transitioning to work.

Many begin school developmentally behind, largely due to the intergenerational effects of limited access to education. In response, Ganbina delivers a suite of programs, such as the Accelerated Learning Program in English and Mathematics, designed to bring students up to the same academic level as their peers and keep them engaged.

By addressing these root causes, Ganbina is committed to providing sustainable, long-term solutions for educational and employment equality.

3. A hand up, not a handout

Sometimes by helping too much, we hinder the growth of that person….When they are nurtured too much, it almost becomes an expectation that everything’s done for them. So I think the good thing about Ganbina’s programs is that they’ve been able to find the balance between yes, we understand there are some barriers and let’s provide assistance, but there has to be accountability and responsibility on the part of the people receiving that assistance as well.”

– Larissa Falla, Ganbina General Manager 2018-2020

 

Ganbina’s approach to addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander socio-economic disadvantage is grounded in empowering our participants with the skills to create change for themselves.

Rather than simply placing young people in after-school jobs, Ganbina focuses on equipping them with essential skills such as resume writing, understanding workplace obligations, and acing job interviews.

By empowering participants to secure employment independently, they experience the value of their achievements. In return for this support, participants are required to stay in school, reinforcing self-determination and accountability—principles at the heart of Ganbina’s success.

4. Commit to generational change

What I liked about it (the timeline of Jobs4U2) was its practical approach. Two generations. Not two, or five, or seven years. Two generations is the right approach, it takes a wise, long-term view of the problem. It says we can’t fix it overnight, but in time – we can.”

– Jim O’Connor, former Worktrainers CEO

One issue identified by the community was that many programs addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage were short-term, lacking sustained follow-up. Given that many challenges stem from intergenerational trauma and disadvantage, Ganbina’s founders understood that long-lasting solutions require more than a few election cycles to achieve.

Frequent changes in government often disrupted existing programs, hindering progress. To create true impact, Ganbina committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people from ages 5 to 25, encompassing the full education, training, and careers employment journey.

This long-term vision aims to create lasting generational change, with the hope of closing Ganbina’s doors by 2047, when our services are no longer needed.

5. Evaluate rigorously and change when necessary

What really inspires me about Ganbina is that they never stand still… They continually look at what else they could do to improve the support of young people. So while the program at its core is always there, it continually changes for the better.

– Vedran Drakulic OAM, Gandel Foundation, CEO

Ganbina’s Jobs4U2 program has remained true to its core purpose as a school-to-work transition initiative for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, it has evolved over time to address emerging challenges.

  • Recognising the barriers to employment due to lack of a driver’s license, Ganbina started a driver’s program.
  • To boost motivation and highlight achievements, we established a Youth Achievement Award night, celebrating success in education, employment, and training
  • When it became clear that students were falling behind academically, Ganbina introduced a free accelerated learning (tutoring) program.

These adjustments reflect Ganbina’s commitment to continuous improvement. Additionally, the program undergoes rigorous independent evaluations to ensure it remains effective and adaptable.

Real results. Real impact. Real change.

Ganbina’s approach has led to more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people staying in school, completing Year 12, and successfully transitioning into careers of their choice. The program’s outcomes demonstrate that with the right strategy and dedication, meaningful and lasting change is possible.

On average 88.7% of Ganbina's participants graduate Year 12

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