A new jobs program is aiming to give people a way to break out of social housing in Orange and the west of the state.
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Housing Plus has teamed up with Skillset and Joblink Plus to form Opportunity Pathways, which is part of the government's 10-year vision to break the cycle of disadvantage in social housing.
Services include training, workshops, one-on-one support, case management and wrap around support, coaching and mentoring, work experience placements, job placements and work retention support, with Housing Plus set to match clients with programs they think will suit them.
Housing Plus head of community services Penny Dordoy said they were excited to launch the program.
"We've been working on a pilot with an opportunity knocks program, people who have come out of homelessness or are disadvantaged in some type and all 10 of them are either employed or in training or have more engagement in employment," she said.
She said some have left the pilot program, which included Skillset and Joblink Plus, and are living independently "so we know it works".
Skillset CEO Craig Randazzo said there were plenty of roles in community services, health and construction for people to specialise into and the new program would expand on an old unit of Skillset and said he was excited to be working with Joblink Plus and Housing Plus.
"I think in regional areas it's really important for organisations with key specialities to get together and provide their knowledge of each discipline and approach things in the community together."
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