We work to get you ready for work, when the time is right – so from time to time we also ask you what you think of the job we’re doing.
In November last year, we surveyed a number of you to get more understanding of your needs and how well you felt the ParentsNext program operated by The Salvation Army Employment Plus (Employment Plus) was meeting your needs.
ParentsNext is very much about preparing you for future work. We understand the path is different for everyone depending on their family make-up, support structure and other individual circumstances.
Of our survey respondents, more than half are actively looking for work – which is possibly an indication of the tricky economic times we’re facing. Just under 30% were looking for part-time work, 20% were looking for casual and 8% wanted a full-time role. A quarter of respondents were embarking on extra studies – usually with our assistance – to grow their skill set and improve their employment prospects and choices in the future.
For the participants who were looking for work – we asked what kind of work they were looking for., The most popular vocations being healthcare and social assistance, retail, admin, and education and training. Manufacturing and construction jobs were also popular with our mums and dads.
We learned that 20% of our ParentsNext respondents identified as culturally linguistic or diverse (CALD) with 16% identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. As we continue to broaden our understanding of how we can help all sectors of our society, we also encourage individuals to continue to help us understand any cultural considerations we should take into account when assisting in training or job opportunities.
Around 75% of respondents had interacted directly with us since our last survey in November 2023. We also recorded an improvement – from 82% to 91% – of those polled believing Employment Plus understood their needs. We also saw a jump from 51% to 75% in the number of surveyed participants believing Employment Plus had helped them apply for appropriate roles or training and around 85% felt Employment Plus helped them understand the ParentsNext program.
While we’re encouraged by this feedback, it serves as a reminder that staying and connecting with us is a key determining factor in getting the most out of the program.
Pleasingly –80% of survey participants would recommend our service to others. Like parents, we can be hard on ourselves, and we know we’re not perfect – who is!? – but we are proud that the majority of those surveyed saw value in our support.
If you have any other feedback you would like to share, please email marketing.eplus@salvationarmy.org.au.