Work Readiness Program
Green Yakka Outdoor Labour Team Member
Green Yakka’s Work Readiness Program: From First Conversation to First Shift and Beyond
Maureen Alam has two favourite parts of her job.
The first is meeting new clients and listening to their stories and why they want to work with us,” says Maureen, Green Yakka Employment Support Coordinator. “And the second is when I’m able to give them work. Oh my God, they become so happy.”
Getting from that first conversation to a first shift takes a lot of work behind the scenes. In Sydney and the Illawarra, Maureen and fellow Employment Support Coordinator Jennifer Lare support people facing barriers to employment, from onboarding and work readiness training through to paid work.
People come to Green Yakka with a wide range of experiences. Many are new to Australia and building their English skills and local work experience; others may be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, young people entering the workforce or people who have experienced long-term unemployment.
“Lack of local experience is the first big barrier we see, and then language barriers,” Maureen says. Other major challenges can include unfamiliar workplace expectations, low confidence, limited transport or difficulty navigating employment systems.
Once initial onboarding is complete, Green Yakka’s Work Readiness Program prepares people for what comes next. We support our people to understand the basics of Australian workplaces – from contracts, payslips and workplace rights to arriving on time, using PPE correctly, following site instructions and working safely as part of a team.
“I show them pictures and videos of the work,” Jennifer says. “If it’s litter picking, I’ll show them exactly what that looks like.” I want to make sure they understand the job and are comfortable doing it before they start.”
“I have two favourite parts to my job, the first is meeting new clients and listening to their stories and why they want to work with us. And the second is when I’m able to give them work. Oh my God, they become so happy.”
Maureen Alam – Green yakka Employment Support Coordinator
Where needed, Jennifer and Maureen work one-on-one and involve a support person or interpreter to help people understand the paperwork and what will be expected of them at work.
Then it’s time for the first shift. Jennifer and Maureen work to understand the client’s requirements, organise PPE and site inductions, and make sure staff have the support they need to get to work and succeed on site.
“Even getting staff to the worksite is something that we plan,” Maureen says. “Most of our worksites are not close to public transport, and the majority of our casual staff members don’t have a driving licence or a car. It’s all about making sure our people are ready to work and have the right support.”
And safety is the number one focus. “It’s our duty of care to make sure our people are wearing the right thing, understand our safety procedures and have what they need to look after themselves while they’re on the ground,” Jennifer says.
This level of preparation also ensures we deliver reliable, high-quality work for our clients.
For Jennifer, the payoff is when all the pieces come together: “When our people are happy and the client is happy,” she says, “that’s when I’m like, yep. I have done my job.”
Over time, both women see the difference our support makes in people’s lives.
“When people have been working for a couple of shifts, you can feel the confidence build up,” Jennifer says. “Their level of communication also increases.”
As people gain experience and confidence, Maureen says many become “hungry for work” – keen to take on the opportunities that come their way.
“You ring them and you can always rely on them. Then after a year, they’ve built their confidence and picked up skills, setting them on the path to other permanent jobs. Which is a good thing. It’s what we want for them, in the end.”
Maureen Alam – Green yakka Employment Support Coordinator
