Last week at Status Osborne Park, our 5-Week Mindfulness Workshop continued with a relaxing and creative session of colouring.

Our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants embraced this session with enthusiasm, filling pages with vibrant colours. The atmosphere was serene yet joyful, the perfect balance of mindful focus and creative expression.

Did you know? When you colour, your brain gets a workout. The logical side decides which colours to pick, while the creative side figures out how to pair those colours together. While this is the theory, what truly matters is the moment. Colouring draws your attention fully into the present, helping quiet the mind and ease stress.

Through workshops like these, our Participants are making steady progress in overcoming personal barriers. Our weekly mindfulness activities ease the pressure of expectation, creating space for natural, stress-free growth. We are delighted to see the meaningful connections and calm moments growing stronger each week.

Last week, Status Osborne Park launched a 5-week Mindfulness Workshop in the lead-up to R U OK? Day this September. Each week, our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants are welcomed into a safe space with a range of activities designed to foster connection, support and emotional wellbeing.

The first session kicked off with a calming succulent planting activity. In the lead up to the event, our team worked hard to gather everything needed for a relaxing session:

• Post Placement Support Mentor, Andrea, sourced a wonderful collection of succulents—generously shared by her neighbour with a passion for gardening.
• Team Leader, Violet, hunted down quirky mugs and other materials from local op shops to make the activity personal and fun.
• Youth Peer Mentor, Sheree, facilitated the session with care and energy, while Link Workers, Zane and Catherine, supported the Participants throughout.
• Meanwhile, Link Worker, Asha and Industry Specialist Consultant, Emma, ensured the day-to-day operations of the centre continued seamlessly in the background.

It was a heart-warming, engaging session where Participants opened up, shared stories and formed genuine connections. Barriers began to soften, friendships started to bloom and the atmosphere was filled with laughter, reflection and a sense of belonging. The smiles say it all!

At Status, we are proud to be supporting our Participants not only in their vocational goals but also in addressing the non-vocational barriers that can significantly impact their journeys, like mental health.

Last week our Mirrabooka Indigenous Mentor, Josephine and Morley Youth Peer Mentor, Sheree, were invited to host an Indigenous Art Session at Altone Youth Centre, a vibrant local drop-in space offering support and activities for both young people aged 12–18 and those aged 18 and over.

The session was a wonderful blend of colour, conversation, and community spirit. The youth welcomed our team warmly, sharing their stories, school experiences and even a little drama - reminding us of the everyday challenges they face and the importance of creating safe, open spaces for them to connect and express themselves.

With plenty of food from OzHarvest, games, and laughter, the energy was infectious. It was also a great chance to deepen our relationship with the incredible staff at Altone Youth Centre and to better understand the range of services they provide to support local young people.

We are excited about what’s to come and look forward to strengthening our partnership with Altone Youth Centre as we continue our work in the community through the Workforce Australia – Transition to Work program!

On 25 July, the Midland team proudly relaunched the newly improved Youth Lounge! Designed with our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants in mind, the refreshed space now better reflects their interests and provides a welcoming environment to learn, connect, and grow.

The event was a major success, with three guest employers attending to generously share their time and insights. Each employer shared their career journey, highlighting the message:
“It doesn’t matter where you start… just as long as you start.”
This inspired Participants to reflect on their own pathways and ask questions about employment opportunities.

We’re pleased to share that:
• One Participant was offered a position with D&R Carpet Cleaning
• Another Participant is set to begin work with Encore Monitoring once they complete the required industry certifications (with support from Status!)
• Two additional Participants will meet with Caper Group to explore potential apprenticeships

Thank you to Peter from D&R Carpet Cleaning, Stef from Caper Group, and Lucien from Encore Monitoring for attending the relaunch and supporting our Participants as they begin their employment journey!

𝗦𝗼, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲?
• Toasted sandwiches, microwave meals, fresh fruit, drinks, and lolly jars
• “Meet the Team” wall – featuring staff bios and country-of-origin flags
• Goals and vision board
• Musical instruments – acoustic guitar and keyboard
• Phone charging station
• Interactive board games – including Uno, Rubik’s Cubes, electric noughts and crosses, and music freeze handball
• Arts and crafts station – with weaving, canvas dot painting, origami, paint-by-numbers, LEGO, and jewel art

In addition to connecting with local employers, our Participants had a blast getting involved in a range of interactive and inclusive activities. From adding to the new vision board and testing out the Wii console, to enjoying pizza, snacks, and lucky door prizes, the relaunched Youth Lounge was buzzing with good vibes!

We also welcomed Participants to the new Quiet Room – a calming space with board games and sensory-friendly activities, designed for those who experience social anxiety or sensory processing challenges.

The relaunch of the Midland Youth Lounge was a resounding success, with all Participants enthusiastically exploring the revitalised space, designed with their interests and goals in mind. With more updates still to come, the lounge is set to become a vibrant hub for connection, growth, and opportunity.

Congratulations to our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participant, Maddison, who completed her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and began her first full-time job this July!

Maddi joined the Transition to Work program in June last year, seeking support and guidance for her future. As an early school leaver with limited formal qualifications and moderate transport challenges, she was looking for career direction.

Link Worker Amira worked closely with Maddi to explore her passions and strengths. Together, they discovered Maddi’s keen interest in early childhood education and arranged for her to enrol in a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Over the following months, the Status Mirrabooka team supported Maddi through:
𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴: Post Placement Support Mentor Justin (who also completed the same qualification earlier in his career) checked in each week to provide ongoing support.
𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: We funded a block of driving lessons to help Maddi obtain her licence.
𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲-𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀: Youth Peer Mentor Sheree connected Maddi with budgeting and healthy relationships workshops, equipping her with tools for financial independence and wellbeing.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Amira provided tailored resume writing and interview preparation, ensuring Maddi could confidently present her new skills to employers.

Thanks to Maddi’s dedication—and the support of the Status team—she:
1. Completed her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
2. Obtained her driver’s licence
3. Secured full-time employment in a childcare centre

During a recent visit to the team, Maddi shared the exciting news of her new role. The team was thrilled and helped her access funding for her uniform and a petrol voucher—so she’ll walk in (or better yet, drive in!) fully prepared to thrive in her new role.

Congratulations, Maddi, on your new role and licence—your hard work and determination have truly paid off!

Navigating the Australian tax system can be overwhelming, especially for young people just starting their careers. Last month, our Workforce Australia – Transition to Work Participants were visited by Sandra from Next Generation Accounting and Tax for an empowering and insightful session focused on clarifying the world of taxes.

Sandra brought clarity, confidence, and a whole lot of energy to the room. Her presentation broke down the basics of tax in a way that was not only easy to understand but also engaging and relatable.

With tax time here, questions were flying, and Sandra answered them all with grace and generosity. Going above and beyond, she stayed after the session to offer free one-on-one consultations, giving our Participants the personal guidance they needed to feel prepared and empowered.

A big thank you to Sandra for sharing her time, wisdom, and passion. Her visit left a lasting impact, and the feedback from our attendees has been overwhelmingly positive. Our Participants now feel informed and equipped for tax time!

Congratulations to the over 25 Workforce Australia - Transition to Work Participants who broke down ID and fines barriers across two big days!

The event, held on the 22nd and 23rd of July, was a resounding success, with over two dozen Participants taking positive steps toward overcoming key barriers in their lives—many walking away with new identification, learner’s permits, and most importantly, a renewed sense of empowerment.

Across both days, the event was bustling with activity as Participants worked closely with support staff and service providers to tackle longstanding issues on their employment journey.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵?
• A whopping 18 Participants successfully attained their learner’s permits!
• 3 Participants visited the Centrelink stall to obtain or replace crucial identification cards.
• 5 Participants received their birth certificates through assistance from the Department of Justice.
• 1 Participant renewed their learner’s permit, and another ordered a replacement card.
• 2 supported in managing outstanding fines by being set up with Work and Development Permits or payment plans.

A highlight of the event was when one Participant finally received their photo ID, enabling them to open a bank account and begin receiving Centrelink payments - a milestone moment.

The positive impact of the event also saw members of the community enquire about our services and our capacity for their ongoing support!

Our Participants left the event with smiles on their faces, having taken meaningful and resilient steps forward in their personal journeys.

A huge thank you to our Status team for organising this trip and giving the culturally relevant services to our Participants. We are excited for the future!