Talent RISE raises $89k to aid youth employment programmes

Talent RISE has successfully raised a whopping USD $89,172 through its 2024 'Step Up Challenge' initiative aimed at assisting young people facing employment challenges.

These funds are earmarked for three major initiatives: the EnterTech Program, the Paid Internship Scheme, and the Equal Access Program.

The EnterTech Program focuses on funding work placements and training for young people to gain necessary skills and experience for technology roles. The Paid Internship Scheme aims to provide internships to young individuals who face difficulties securing such opportunities, offering them critical experience and confidence to secure employment.

The Equal Access Program supports young people from refugee, asylum seeker, or Indigenous backgrounds by covering the cost of training alongside work readiness support provided by Talent RISE.

In the financial year 2024, Talent RISE supported 554 young people with training and coaching, successfully placing 61 into meaningful employment.

Karen Graham, CEO of Talent RISE ANZ, commented on the fundraising success, saying, "Raising $89,172 is incredibly heartwarming and a fantastic result that will help so many."

"Over the last 12 months, the Talent RISE team have helped countless young people and will now be able to help many more because of the generosity of others. As in previous years, all of Talent RISE's overhead costs are covered which means every cent that is raised goes directly to support young people facing barriers to employment."

A beneficiary of the Equal Access Program, Nikita Vasiliev, a young refugee, shared her experience: "Talent RISE has helped a lot with my journey and has had a really positive impact as I take my first steps towards my dream of becoming a nurse. It has been a relief to receive this scholarship and I am so grateful to the RISE team."

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that the youth unemployment rate in Australia was 9.6% in June 2024, more than double the overall unemployment rate of 4.0%.

In New Zealand, Stats NZ figures showed a 12.4% rate of people aged 15-24 not in employment, education, or training (NEET) in the March 2024 quarter, up from 10.3% in March 2023.

Talent RISE was launched in 2014 as the charitable foundation of Talent, a global technology and digital recruitment specialist.

Over the years, Talent RISE has engaged more than 5,000 young people through workshops and mentoring, successfully placing over 500 into meaningful employment. The Talent and Talent RISE global team has contributed over 50,000 volunteer hours to charities and community projects, with the 'Step Up Challenge' now added to their list of efforts.