The successful Ladder Step Up Latrobe Valley program has been embedded in the community since 2017 and has supported young people in the Latrobe Valley, while extending its offering to support young people and parents in the inner Gippsland region.

The evidence-based program is designed to help young people at risk of long-term unemployment build confidence, develop community connections and test a range of education, employment and training pathways.

335 young people in Gippsland have been supported by Ladder Step Up Latrobe Valley since the program commenced service delivery in April 2018, with 304 young people graduating. 93 per cent of graduates are engaged in education, employment and training post program.

To better understand the long-term impact of the program, Ladder recently undertook a follow-up study of alumni from Program 1 - 35.

The study revealed:

• 78.3 per cent were currently engaged in EET
• A further 16 per cent were actively job-seeking with ongoing support from Ladder and its alumni program
• 89.5 per cent had either worked in the Gippsland region or were currently working in the Gippsland region.

The evaluation highlighted the program’s powerful ability to spark change for young people not previously engaged in education, employment or training.

Read the full report here.