Simple Growth

GOAL FIVE

Creating Employment Opportunities at Scale

This sharpened focus drove a year of significant growth across our enterprises: we created more jobs than ever before, expanded into new regions, and dramatically increased training and development opportunities.

We provided 960 people with employment opportunities (up from 786 in FY24), with 70% joining us while experiencing barriers to work. Of these, 822 people were employed directly and 138 were placed with third-party employers through our highly successful work readiness programs like Strive for Success.

We also delivered 15,842 training and development outcomes – almost 150% more than last year – giving more people the skills and confidence to succeed.

This growth was driven by major milestones and planned change across our social enterprises:

Green Yakka launched as a dedicated labour hire and zero waste brand, enabling us to scale employment creation and grow our impact. This new chapter was made possible by the transition of Green Connect Farm to an independent enterprise, allowing The Farm to focus on its fair food and community mission while also staying connected to our employment pathways through Green Yakka.

Strive for Success continued to prove its potential to transform youth employment outcomes, with 89% of participants who gained work staying employed and many overcoming significant barriers such as mental health challenges and housing instability.

Resource Recovery Australia (RRA) increased its footprint in Rockhampton with the Gracemere Waste Facility and opened Reviva Darwin, welcoming 15,000 customers and creating eight new local jobs in its first six months. The Mobile Community Recycling Service also completed over 7,000 collections across Sydney’s west.

Soft Landing secured a seven-year contract renewal with The Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC), ensuring stable employment for our Smithfield team and responsible recycling services for communities across Sydney. We also explored new opportunities to expand into additional regions, strengthening our ability to provide jobs and environmental outcomes where they are needed most.

Women from refugee backgrounds gaining valuable hands-on experience in a culturally safe environment with Green Yakka.

Young people like Ashlyn and Charley taking their first steps into work through Strive for Success.

Ricky and other new team members at RRA’s Reviva Reuse Shops finding connection, purpose and a pathway into meaningful work.

Soft Landing staff like Husein and Nasser overcoming complex barriers to build long-term careers.