Joblink Plus donates $100,000 to Youth Insearch

With Joblink referring many of its most vulnerable clients to Youth Insearch, it sees the life-changing impact it has. It’s had such a profound effect that a number of Joblink staff have begun volunteering with the organisation.

So when Joblink’s CEO Christine Shewry heard the government withdrew $400,000 in annual funding, she “just couldn’t believe it”.

“We’ve got the evidence everyday in our working lives that it works,” Ms Shewry said.

“It just seems to us, with the work that we do with young people, and our commitment to community, this was something we had to support.”

The money is on top of the $40,000 Joblink has already donated this year, and will continue to donate annually, which will go Youth Insearch programs around the Tamworth region.

Tamworth Citizen of the Year and local magistrate Mal MacPherson has been involved with Youth Insearch for almost two decades. He said the donation “means we keep existing for the foreseeable future”.

“These guys are our saviours,” he said.

“Without something to fill that federal funding gap, we would have slowly contracted then disappeared.”

Ms Shewry has challenged other businesses, particularly those with a connection to young people, to help reduce the funding gap.

“Think about the young people you benefit from and put something back,” she said.

Danielle Wallace knows the value of Youth Insearch first hand. She was first referred to it by Joblink. After a number of camps, she gained the confidence to get a job.

Now she’s come full circle, working at Joblink.

“Before Youth Insearch, I was laying in bed all day not doing anything,” she said.

Youth Insearch CEO Heath Ducker said the donation took “a lot of pressure off”.

“It’s just amazing the organisation thinks so highly of the work we do, that the community has to get behind it to ensure the funding gap is not left open,” he said.

“They’ve seen the results first hand with their clients. Youth Insearch has the ability to break through to a lot of these young people that their working.

“Having support like this and knowing that our work is recognised and valuable to the community makes such a difference to us.”

He hoped other businesses would follow Joblink’s example.

“We all benefit when these young people make changes.”

“It means less crime, less drug use, less delinquency in general in the community. If we all pitch in and lend a hand, we're all apart of the solution.”