In the thoroughfare beside the bakery in the bustling Preston Market, you’ll find the friendly faces of Jesuit Social Services’ Jobs Advocates, waiting at our employment-help stall.
Our Jobs Advocates team helps connect job-seekers with work in their local area, by providing information, referrals, and connections with local services and supports.
Advocate Teyra Jasso says it’s not just about handing out brochures to shoppers with their bánh mì – it’s about having meaningful conversations to learn just what people might need.
“We try to provide quality, even if it’s short interactions,” she says.
“With some, it’s very casual, and with others, they tell you their struggles and their experiences and what they are trying to get here. When you can actually have meaningful conversations with people, it’s good.”
Jesuit Social Services has delivered the Jobs Victoria Advocates program in two regions of Melbourne since early 2021, supporting more than 600 people to sharpen their resumes, select jobs they’re well-suited for, and grow confidence to stand out in interview processes.
The program addresses the practical challenges of navigating job-seeking – which can be heightened for people who haven’t grown up in Australia and are accustomed to different systems.