RACV and STREAT partnership offers a path to employment for young Victorians

RACV has released a video showcasing how their participation in STREAT’s Paid to Work Program is helping young Victorians to achieve their employment goals.

Paid to Work is a 9-month program offering young people the opportunity to participate in 20-25 hours a week of paid employment in hospitality or horticulture at STREAT’s employment partners.

RACV has been a Paid to Work employment partner since 2017 and has allowed a number of young Victorians the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the hospitality industry.

The video includes the story of Ethan, who joined RACV in 2021 through the Paid to Work Program. Ethan has now completed the program and joined RACV as a full-time apprentice chef.

STREAT’s Youth Programs Manager, Gail Burridge, says that the participation of employment partners such as RACV is changing lives.

“STREAT is a social enterprise that supports vulnerable young people 16 to 24 through work readiness programmes within horticulture and hospitality,” says Ms Burridge.

“Words can't explain how much it changes their life. It definitely impacts the young people that we work with.”

RACV City Club’s executive chef, Jason Camillo, says that Ethan has become an integral part of the team at RACV City Club.

“Improving the lives of Victorians is part of our DNA at RACV. And us and STREAT working together to improve young people’s lives, like Ethan, is immensely important.”

“I'm always looking for that passion within someone. We got Ethan in the kitchen, and he started doing a little bit of cooking here and there in the bistro kitchen, and then we could see how well he fitted in with the team,” says Chef Camillo.

“It was really a great pleasure to offer him an apprenticeship with us at RACV.”

STREAT exists to help young people who have experienced marginalisation, disadvantage and a range of barriers to employment. They aim to provide a sense of connection, safety and belonging to young people. They want young people to thrive in all parts of their lives, and achieve a healthy self, healthy work and a healthy home.

RACV is improving lives by investing in people, products and services that have a positive impact and make a difference to the communities in which they operate.