Campbell Page Celebrates Young Indigenous Filmmakers at Documentary Premiere

young indigenous filmmakers

Not-for-profit employment and community service provider Campbell Page hosted a premiere on Friday for documentary films made for the My Voice, My Journey First Nations Youth Leadership Program.

The program, funded by the NSW Government’s ‘Our Region, Our Voice’ Regional Youth Investment Program, empowers young First Nations people to build confidence and cultural identity while creating a platform for their voices to be heard. 

Participants in the program showcased their first two documentaries as well as played key roles in hosting the event’s 200 plus attendees, which included the filmmakers’ friends and families, government representatives including Mayor Mathew Hatcher and Fiona Phillips MP, as well as philanthropic organisation representatives and supporters.

“The involvement of our young people throughout the evening reflects the value of the My Voice, My Journey Program in helping to reduce shame and build confidence through their culture and connection to Country,” My Voice, My Journey Program Founder and Manager, Todd Chatfield, said. “The fact that our young people were so involved in the evening and were not afraid to show who they are in front of a large crowd speaks volumes as to how far they have come. That confidence embodied by the young people flows through to all the community, and we are very proud of all our young people.”

Campbell Page and The VERTO Group remain deeply committed to empowering youth and fostering leadership skills in Indigenous communities. Hosting events such as this represents a continued dedication to providing platforms for the voices of young leaders to be heard and celebrated.

“We are grateful to have shared this remarkable evening and to have celebrated the achievements of inspiring young leaders,” Campbell Page CEO Gail O’Donnell said. 

“The event showcased immense talent as well as the importance of creating platforms for young Indigenous leaders to share their voice. We are immensely proud of the fantastic work that Campbell Page does to support this vision.”

National Homelessness Week 2023: Our thanks to Blackshaw Coastal’s Winter Appeal

We are grateful to announce the success of the Winter Appeal organised by Blackshaw Coastal in support of Campbell Page’s Youth Homelessness programs. This National Homelessness Week 7-13 August 2023, we celebrate the immense impact made by their efforts in providing vital support to those in need during this winter season.

Thanks to the unwavering support from our community, the Winter Appeal has helped more than 150 individuals and 22 families by providing them with essential food and warm goods. These contributions have undoubtedly made a significant difference in their lives during this challenging time.  These valuable donations helped to meet local people’s immediate needs, with 85% reaching recipients within the week.

As we observe National Homelessness Week, let’s also take a moment to reflect on some startling homelessness statistics in Australia. On any given night, 122,494 people experience homelessness, with one in seven being children under 12. Shockingly, almost one in four individuals experiencing homelessness are young people aged between 12 and 24, and one in five are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Homelessness is not just about “rooflessness.” A mere 6.2% of people without homes sleep rough, while the majority of homelessness remains hidden in crisis accommodation, rooming houses, insecure housing, overcrowded dwellings, or couch surfing.

The demand for homelessness services remains pressing. In 2021-22, 272,700 people were supported by these services, but sadly, another 105,000 people were unable to receive help due to shortages of staff, accommodation, or other services. Every day, 300 people are turned away because the resources are overstretched.

Understanding the reasons behind homelessness is crucial in finding sustainable solutions. Over half of the people seeking homelessness services attribute housing or financial issues, such as unaffordable rents, as their primary reason for seeking help. Additionally, 28% cite family violence or other forms of abuse as the main cause, while other family relationship issues and other factors contribute to the remaining percentages.

To combat homelessness effectively, we must work together to provide those in need with three fundamental elements: adequate incomes, secure housing, and protection from violence and abuse. By addressing these critical needs, we can take substantial steps towards ending homelessness in our community.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in the Winter Appeal, and to Blackshaw Coastal for organising and running the Appeal, and we encourage all of you to continue supporting the cause throughout the year. Together, we can create a brighter future for those experiencing homelessness and pave the way for a more compassionate society.

Let’s stand united in our efforts to end homelessness. 

#NationalHomelessnessWeek #BlackshawCoastal #WinterAppeal #CampbellPageYouthHomelessness #EndHomelessness #SupportingOurCommunity

Creating local jobs with Belgravia Apparel

Campbell Page customer Tony shows the stock management skills he has learnt with new employer, Belgravia Sports Apparel

Belgravia Apparel and Campbell Page have partnered up to provide sustainable jobs for not one, not two but seven Adelaide locals who live with a disability.  


Too often, hardworking, and motivated people are overlooked because they live with a disability. There are 2.1 million Australians of working age with disability. Of these, just under half were employed (47.8%), compared with 80.3% of people without disability (source: Australian Network on Disability

Our customers have been settling into their new roles and performing a range of tasks including quality control, using equipment such as heat transfer presses, packing orders, retail support and applying logos and personalisation’s for a range of Belgravia’s clients. 

 “You get to learn all aspects of the manufacturing industry” – Dani, Campbell Page Customer 

Campbell Page customer Adrian has been enjoying a range of tasks in his new job, including creating logo for Belgravia Apparel.

Future job opportunities

Three of the seven recruits have also been given further training opportunities since starting work. They are now studying nationally recognized certificates in Supply Chain Management or Process Manufacturing. 

“Being able to develop skills and support the long-term future of these colleagues is very rewarding for us” – Belgravia Apparel Supply Chain Manager, Stephen Ladley.  

Along with learning new skills, they’re also enjoying all the perks that come with finding a job. Meeting new people, more financial independence, and building their confidence in the workplace thanks to a supportive and understanding employer.  

 “It feels like [working with] family. It’s a supportive environment.” – Adrian, Campbell Page Customer. 

Creating recruitment solutions

The partnership has also eased recruitment frustrations and supported business growth for Belgravia Apparel, who were struggling to find high quality candidates. They were relying on referrals or advertising through online job boards to find employees that unfortunately, just weren’t the right fit.  

L-R Stephen & Emma from Belgravia Apparel, with Campbell Page customers Sherilee, Tony & Adrian.

“There was a significant number of lost hours trying to resolve recruitment. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome from the partnership. By understanding our culture, our business operations and regularly checking in with us, our expectations have been exceeded”- Belgravia Apparel Supply Chain Manager, Stephen Ladley.  

We’re thrilled to be working with Belgravia Apparel to create sustainable jobs for local people as well as providing ongoing training and support to our Campbell Page customers.


Whether you’re living with a disability and looking for work, or are looking to hire staff for your business, Campbell Page can help. We don’t just team up with you, we get in your corner and find the solution that’s right for you.

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New wildlife corridors helping to protect native animals in the Eurobodalla.

An aerial photo of the EcoCrews team performing regeneration work with Local Land Services in Coila NSW

A project delivered in partnership with Local Land Services (LLS), Coastwatchers and EcoCrewsis helping to restore habitat for native animals including the Great Glider, which is listed as a threatened species, with the creation of wildlife corridors.


Over 3,500 natives have been planted across 1 kilometre of land connecting the wetlands of Coila Lake and the coastal woodlands creating the corridor. As the plants grow, they serve as travelling avenues for wildlife, providing important sources of food, and restoring connectivity between natural habitats, which increases the survival of populations in fragmented areas.

Greater Gliders are listed as a threatened species. Image Credit Josh Bowell, WWF Australia

“As coastal development increases there is a greater need to extend wildlife habitat, particularly in the Bingi-Congo area where there is a listed threatened species population of the Greater Glider. To future proof such species to withstand the impacts of climate change we need to extend their habitat”. Sonia Bazzacco – Senior Land Services Officer, South East Local Land Services.

CREATING THE CORRIDORS

Local landowner, Tess Schwarz also noted the importance of enhancing biodiversity in the region. “As a landholder I think we have a responsibility to think about how we can improve biodiversity and wildlife habitat not only on your own property but also linking remnant vegetation across the landscape.”

An aerial photo of the EcoCrews team performing regeneration work with Local Land Services in Coila NSW
EcoCrews and local land Services working together to plant 3,500 native plants across 1km of land.

The corridors have been established over several months with planting performed by EcoCrews, a social enterprise of Campbell Page who provide jobs to locals supported by accredited training while completing much needed environmental projects. The most recent and final stage of the project saw 760 natives planted in 4 days.

“We’re thrilled to be involved in such important projects. We’ve covered a large area and it’s very exciting for our Crew members to know that the work we’re doing today will benefit the local region and native fauna for years to come”. Mark Green- Regional Manager EcoCrews.

The Coastwatchers contribution to this project is through a Great Eastern Ranges (GER) grant funded by World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia (WWF).

To find out more, contact Sonia Bazzacco – Senior Land Services Officer, South East Local Land Services on 0429 998 585.


If you’d like to find out more about joining an EcoCrew, becoming a future project host or are interested in working together, get in touch!

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EcoCrews reaches program halfway mark!

EcoCrews team performing planting in a paddock

Our social enterprise EcoCrews™ has already hit the half-way mark on the NSW South Coast. Time flies when you’re making a difference in your local community! Since launching in December 2021, the crews have been working hard completing a wide range of different environmental activities, learning a bunch of new skills, and visiting a variety of beautiful sites across the region.

Just another day at the office for our EcoCrews on the NSW South Coast

Working closely with our project hosts Eurobodalla Shire Council, Bega Valley Shire Council and SAGE Stepping Stone Farm, we have successfully completed round 1 of EcoCrews, and our round 2 participants are already underway.

OUR IMPACT SO FAR

We’re proud to say that so far our crews have exceeded all of our environmental targets including activities such as like planting 3,250 seedlings to revegetate a wildlife corridor in Coila, NSW, supporting koala habitat restoration whilst working with World Wildlife Fund Australia.

Some of the impacts of EcoCrews so far

Our Stepping Stone Farm Crew have also achieved competency across the curriculum, covering 63 different competencies from Key Learning Areas such as WHS, Organic Farming Principles, Irrigation and Harvesting and Storage.

FERTILISING FUTURES

Since completion of the EcoCrews program, our round one recruits have moved have gone from strength to strength with:

  • 50% have moved onto further work, including one crew member who has been promoted to EcoCrews Team Supervisor
  • 9% of participants have moved into full-time study
  • 41% are continuing to complete their Certificate II in Conversation and Ecosystem Management

We’re incredibly proud of the work achieved to date by our EcoCrews and can’t wait to see what our next round of recruits will do. EcoCrews was launched as a result of the devastating 2019-2020 black summer bushfires. We’re rehabilitating bushfire impacted areas while creating local jobs for local people to help them, the community, and environment thrive.


If you’d like to find out more about joining an EcoCrew, becoming a future project host or are interested in working together, get in touch!

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GIVIT visits Mogo Aboriginal Preschool

Three women sitting at a picnic table displaying a vairety of children's games, books and toys.

Article originally published on The Beagle.

Caroline Odgers from not-for-profit donation platform GIVIT was in Mogo NSW today distributing Christmas presents to charity partner Campbell Page Mogo Aboriginal Preschool. GIVIT assisted the preschool during the Black Summer Bushfires and is now assisting with donations for families who are suffering from financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.

Caroline used donated funds from the public via the GIVIT platform to purchase Christmas presents locally in Mogo before presenting them to Janine Hutton, Program Manager Indigenous, Youth & Family Services at Campbell Page.

GIVIT distributing donations on the NSW South Coast to people impacted by COVID-19 and bushfires

  • GIVIT is facilitating donations of essential items for people that were impacted by the pandemic
  • Almost 2,000 requests for help have been registered across New South Wales
  • Many people are still recovering from the Black Summer Bushfires

Not-for-profit donation platform GIVIT is supporting vulnerable people across New South Wales South Coast impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through a dedicated COVID-19 Relief Program.

With requests for help almost doubling since the beginning of the pandemic, GIVIT is distributing essential items to vulnerable people across the state following a $2 million injection of funds from NRMA Insurance and RACV.

GIVIT partner Campbell Page said they have seen an increase in demand for their services over the past few months.

“Mogo, in Eurobodalla, was badly impacted by the bushfires in 2020,” said Janine Hutton, Program Manager Indigenous, Youth & Family Services at Campbell Page. “Hundreds of homes and many businesses burnt down. GIVIT assisted us at the time by providing essential donations for people to get back on their feet.”

“We’ve now got people who are still recovering from the Black Summer bushfires who have lost jobs because of the pandemic and are experiencing severe financial hardship. They’re struggling to pay bills and feed their families, and many of these people are still suffering from trauma following the fires.”

“We’re putting a call out for donations of food, school supplies, Christmas presents and clothing to help people in this region recover and move on.”

GIVIT spokesperson Caroline Odgers said many people are dealing with the compounding impacts of natural disasters, family and domestic violence, financial hardship and the profound effects of the pandemic.

“Large parts of this region were severely impacted by the Black Summer Bushfires, with so many people still struggling to recover,” said Caroline.

GIVIT facilitated the donation of more than 200,000 essential items and more than $2 million to assist people in New South Wales in the recovery of this disaster.”

“In the first two weeks of our COVID-19 Relief Program we coordinated almost 10,000 donations across New South Wales, with almost 2,000 requests still outstanding.”

“Almost every facet of life has been impacted including businesses, schools, community sports clubs and services.”

“Our message is that help is available. GIVIT can respond to urgent requests for essential items very quickly to help people get through this challenging period. We’re a free, online service for charities, support organisations and local councils to access donations for their communities.”

Since the COVID-19 Relief program was launched in September, hundreds of services have already listed requests for support including domestic and family violence services and emergency food and housing shelters.

NRMA Insurance Executive General Manager Direct Claims, Luke Gallagher said, “So many NSW communities have experienced devastating natural disasters over the past two years, including floods, hail and fires, and as an insurer we’ve seen first-hand how difficult it can be for communities to recover from these events while also dealing with the lasting impacts of the pandemic.”

“As we continue to support our customers in their recovery, we’re proud to partner with GIVIT on the COVID-19 Relief Program to help communities across the state access the urgent, essential items they need as quickly as possible.”

100% of donated money received by GIVIT to support people in need are used to purchase essential items and services. We buy locally, wherever possible, to support local businesses and the economic recovery of affected communities.

To help people struggling in your local community go to www.givit.org.au/covid-19-relief-program. To register as a support organisation go to https://www.givit.org.au/need-help/organisations.

Campbell Page is now a White Ribbon Australia Accredited Workplace

The white ribbon logo made out of white flags in a field next to the ocean

Content warning: This article discusses gendered violence & domestic abuse.

Campbell Page is committed to creating a thriving community that’s free from domestic and family violence. As part of our continued commitment to gender equality, we’re pleased to announce that we have been awarded White Ribbon Australia workplace accreditation.


This accreditation, which has been completed over a number of years, shows that our commitment to gender equality and creating safe workplaces for everyone goes beyond words and has been assessed and endorsed by experts in the field. It reinforces the great work our teams are doing and it helps to strengthen our approach to creating a culture that is respectful, safe and of course, equal.

We’ve built a culture in our offices and within the communities we service that actively helps to prevent domestic violence. We have additional policies, procedures, and support systems for our staff and customers who may be experiencing domestic violence, or who need support to leave. We also deliver specialised community programs and initiatives for our customers that promote respectful relationships and empower women.

The work we do supporting people to thrive by getting a job connects us with many members of the community that are at risk of or experiencing family or domestic violence. To make sure our customers get the support they need to achieve the future they want, we partner up with a range of fantastic community organisations so that we can offer a supportive, holistic solution.

Campbell Page is proud to support White Ribbon Australia and is committed to preventing gendered violence and providing safe and supportive spaces for our employees and customers.


Our sites are abuse free zones. If you’re experiencing domestic violence, or need support to leave, we’re here to help. For more information on White Ribbon Australia visit www.whiteribbon.org.au

Introducing EcoCrews

Introducing EcoCrews

We’re thrilled to announce that we have been awarded $2.1m from the NSW Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) Fund to launch our new EcoCrews™ program in Southern NSW.

EcoCrews is an exciting new program which will offer quality pre-employment training creating 45 well- paying, eco-friendly jobs for young people whilst completing much needed bushfire recovery work through environmental EcoProjects.

In collaboration with the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley Shire Councils, as well as the Stepping Stone Farm we’ll be creating six EcoCrews over the coming year, who will undergo 6-months of paid training and employment to deliver vital land-based works.

Whilst on the program, EcoCrew Members will undertake accredited units in Conservation and Land Management, complemented by mentoring and supervision. We’ll also be adding value to EcoCrew Members’ experience through innovations such as our package of social enterprise support.

We’re excited to share more with you in the coming weeks and months.


Questions?

Let’s chat. Send us a message using the below form or call our friendly team on 1300 139 920.

Top tips to finding a job in your 50s

Find a job in your 50s

Changing careers or finding a job in your 50s (and beyond) can feel really scary, overwhelming and sometimes downright disheartening. Your age, disability, injury, illness or health condition doesn’t have to stand in the way of your next job. Working in our industry we often hear our customers say things like:

“I’ve been raising kids for 20 years – who’d hire me now!”

“Employers only want young, healthy workers. It’s nearly impossible to get a job over 50, how do I get help?”

“I’ve worked for the past 7 years then COVID came along. I’ve tried getting back to work again and just can’t get anywhere.”

“I’m 54 and have over 30 years experience, but I can’t get an interview anywhere”

While it is true, finding a job later in life IS different to being fresh out of school, you’ve got more of a chance of being a standout candidate and landing a job than you realise. Here are our top tips to finding a job in your 50s.


1: You’ve got more skills than we can poke a stick at…

Yep really! Even if you don’t believe us, it’s true.

Chances are, you’ve held a bunch of different jobs over the years that have helped you hone your skills. If you have a long work history try to focus less on your age, or the year attached to your qualifications and more on showcasing that you have the relevant qualifications or better yet, that you’re willing and able to learn!

If you feel like you need to catch up on current trends or brush up on some skills you haven’t used in a while, consider some upskilling opportunities. Find out more about upskilling here.   

If you’ve been out of work for a while, there’s no need to panic. You’ve got something young applicants don’t have – life experience.  Raising kids, volunteering, caring for family members or being involved in the local community are all commitments that have helped build transferrable skills that are desirable in the workplace.

Use this lived experience to highlight your time management, finance & budgeting, problem solving & organisation skills on your resume instead. You can back them up with solid examples from your life and how this would add value to the workplace.

2: Update your resume

A well organised, professional resume is worth its weight in gold.  You could have all the skills in the world, but if you’re not selling it well on paper, you’re unlikely to catch the eye of an employer. If you can’t remember the last time you wrote a resume, then it’s definitely time to breathe some life into it!

Be sure to tailor your resume for the position you’re applying for, ensuring you highlight the relevant skills and experience you have that would make you the ideal candidate for the position. Not sure where to start? Check out our advice on writing a resume.

3: Make your network work!

Ever heard the saying it’s not what you know, it’s who you know? This does hold a bit of truth to it. Having someone introduce you to an employer directly is much more valuable than unsolicited job applications.

Your network of friends, family, former colleagues, bosses and community members are your biggest cheerleaders and between them all, they’re bound to know an employer who is eager to meet you.

Reach out to your network and ask if they know of any available positions or have any contacts, recommendations or introductions they can make for you to help you get your foot in the door. While asking for their help might feel daunting at first, remember, these people care about you and want to see you succeed. You’d do the exact same for them.

4: Prioritize your goals for this next job

Before you go in and apply for every job under the sun, think about what you’re actually after with this job. If it’s to ensure retirement savings, then earning potential is key. If you’re looking to find something that works around your family, then flexibility is important. Perhaps, you’re looking to re-enter the workforce after an extended period of time off, so an understanding employer and training is vital to your success in the role.

Identifying what your job search goals (and must-have’s) are upfront will save you time and energy on applications by helping you whittle down which jobs you should actually put your time and energy into. Everyone’s path is different so find what works for you and your situation!

If you already know what your goals are for the job or industry you are looking for, that’s great! This will help you understand what skills will be required for the job. To match up your skills with potential jobs, you can use a skills match to enter the previous jobs you have worked in, see what skills you may have from your jobs and compare those with new jobs.  

5: Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance

This tongue twister is our way of saying be prepared for any question an employer may ask you. If it’s “you’re over-qualified” tell them that you have considered this issue but know that your experience and skills will be a big asset to the organisation and you’re committed to showing them that. If they are concerned about employment gaps in your resume, speak about the skills you gained during this time. Remember point 1 and how you’ve got a tonne of skills? Explain how you would apply this to the workplace.

When finding a job in your 50s, preparing your answers ahead of time and being equipped to address any employers’ potential tricky questions will help you to feel calm and confident in any interview and will reassure employers. Feeling nervous about job interviews? Here’s everything you need to know about nailing it.

6: Keep your options open and stay positive.

Looking for work can feel like a never-ending battle for anyone at any age. No matter what stage you’re at in the job search, having the right attitude is key. So if you submit an application or go into an interview believing you’re the right person for the job and showing off your willingness to work, you’re instantly that much more employable.

7: Find the right support

Having a great support network to lift you up is important in any job search. If you need support to find work or manage your disability, injury, illness or health condition, we can help!


READY TO FIND WORK?

We’ve got your back through every step of the job search process. Send us a message and we’ll will be in touch shortly to determine how we may be able to help you, or better yet, call us now on 1300 139 920

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Campbell Page customer Maria finds her dream job!

Disability Employment Services customer Maria recently started a job in aged care support, combining her passions of helping others and working with people. We caught up with Maria to find out how the new job is going (spoiler: she’s loving it!)


Before working with Campbell Page, Maria was battling with ongoing health conditions and didn’t see work in her future – in fact, neither did her doctors. Not only was she struggling with her health, she lacked confidence in finding work and didn’t know where to start. When she had tried to find support in the past, she felt that it wasn’t getting her to where she needed to be: “I felt like I was a number in the system and felt stranded”.

The Campbell Page team supported Maria by creating a resume and helping her to identify her skills. Though she hadn’t been in paid employment, her time raising a family and organising a household meant she had a tonne of transferable skills! She was also guided by the team to develop her interpersonal skills, build resilience in the workplace and set boundaries so that she could offer support to others, while still taking care of herself and her condition.

On top of this, Maria entered into study with the support of Campbell Page and her Employment Consultant. Knowing that someone had her back the whole time helped Maria believe in herself and remove any self-doubt about her ability and skills.

From the moment you come in you’re supported. [You’re] actually listened to, I don’t feel like a number. They make you feel like a person, and they understand the problems and come up with solutions.

After successful completion of her course, Maria landed a job in aged care support and she hasn’t looked back since. Maria said working with her clients gives her a reason to smile everyday: “I’m more energetic since starting work, I’ve always been happy & positive, but waking up now, I’m excited for the day and to go to work.”

Here’s what Maria had to say to anyone who lives with an injury, illness, disability or health condition and is struggling to find work:

I think Campbell Page is the best place to get a job you actually want and will be happy with. Even when you’ve got the job they’re still calling you and checking in.

Congratulations to Maria for her new job, we’re so proud of you!

We won’t just team up with you, we’ll get in your corner! If you have an injury, illness, disability or health condition and need support to find work, (and keep it) we can help. Click here or call our friendly team on 1300 139 920 to get started.