WorkForce Plus provides non-government funded assistance in a number of ways to create a stronger local community. These services are delivered by WorkForce Plus staff using funds accumulate by WorkForce Plus as a consequence of the prudent investment of surpluses generated over the past eight years and put into a specially created account called the Genesis Foundation.

Using Genesis Foundation founds WorkForce Plus has been able to continue to deliver much needed programs and services otherwise ignored by government department to give local youth a genesis, or new Beginning, by providing them with the knowledge, skills and support they will need to meet the challenges that they will inevitably face in their lives.

Over the past four years, WorkForce Plus has created, implemented and managed several innovative programs to assist young people who are in danger of disconnecting from education. The programs are particularly important when one considers the statistics: the consequence of young people dropping out of school prior to completion of Year 12 is high levels of unemployment throughout their lifetimes. The opposite is also verified by statistics: The consequence of higher levels of education are higher employment and earnings throughout their lifetimes.

Poll Position is an automotive program designed to put young people on the front grid of life. Run with the assistance of Change Batman TAFE, Holden Australia, Ford and Victoria Police, Poll Position has four years delivered outstanding results in terms of return to school, employment and apprenticeships uptake for the young participants. Such is the success of Poll Position the program has been adopted and run--with the assistance of WorkForce Plus--by Victoria Police and local community organisations and schools in the Macedon Ranges.

Also, over the past two years, a hospitality program titled Front Burner has been run in partnership with Kangan Batman TAFE and Hume Council. Front Burner is designed to assist youth to move from the back-burner of life onto the front burner in terms of education, employment or community involvement. As a consequence of involvement with Front Burner almost 100% of participants returned to school, enrolled at TAFE, or gained employment or an apprenticeship.

To refer a young person to participate in a Poll Position or Front Burner Program, call Sacha Kaluri on 9309-8333

To become a sponsor---cash or in-kind---of Poll Position or Front Burner, call Derek Kosbab on 9309-8333