THE Albury Northside Chamber of Commerce is appealing to the Border community for volunteers to assist in a careers program with Murray High School.
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Business manager Kathie Heyman said the chamber had been approached by not-for-profit community organisation Compact and Murray High School to facilitate a program to address youth unemployment.
The initiative would involve a mentoring program and mock interviews to help students fine tune and develop job skills.
Ms Heyman said there was concern around young people needing help with the development of soft skills - attitude, punctuality, communication and people skills.
“It takes a village to raise a child – all that is being asked is your time and energy,” she said.
“Your assistance may be the catalyst for a young person to gain confidence that otherwise may not have been available to them, to achieve great things for their future.”
One volunteer was Jason Croker, who serves on the board of the chamber and is director of Albury’s business advisory and accounting practice RSM International.
Mr Croker, who graduated from Murray High School, said the program would centre on building confidence in young people.
“We see a lot of people who apply for positions here in accounting, professional staff or administration,” he said.
Mr Croker said basic skills such as punctuality and dress sense were integral to enter the workforce and sometimes overlooked.
“Practice makes perfect,” he said.
“The more time students can have of sitting across the table from a prospective employer is important.
“It can be quite daunting and intimidating - people work themselves up.”
The mock interviews program is aiming to assist up to 80 students on June 16.
It will run from 9am for about four hours and lunch will be provided to volunteers.
The mentoring program will run for six months for one hour per week with an information session on Monday at Albury’s TAFE NSW Riverina Institute from 2pm.
Ms Heyman appealed to anyone with some time and enthusiasm to get on board.
“We need them now,” she said.
Call the Albury Northside Chamber of Commerce on (02) 6023 0105 or visit www.alburynorthside.com.au