By participating in WorkFoundations, Siennah and Azrianna gained the skills and confidence to secure stable employment opportunities.
For many people, building a pathway to employment is a journey of learning and discovery. For Siennah and Azrianna, that journey became a positive and empowering experience through the Track2Work program, delivered by Lighthouse Youth Projects in Adelaide with support from a WorkFoundations grant.
“The WorkFoundations grant has enabled us to deliver a larger program and impact more young people at a higher level in areas that don’t have the support” – Jamie, Lighthouse Youth Projects Founder and WorkFoundations grant recipient.
Through WorkFoundations, Sienna and Azrianna took part in a supported paid work placement, where they were able to explore opportunities, build skills, and take meaningful steps toward their future.
The WorkFoundations’ Track2Work program helps young people and other participants facing barriers to finding work, gain secure sustainable jobs through a structured, holistic model. In addition to paid employment, participants receive tailored mentoring and wraparound support. The program combines hands on work, including mountain bike trail maintenance and mechanical skills, with targeted training to build confidence, teamwork, and job readiness. After completing the paid work placement, participants are supported into ongoing roles with host organisations or local employer partners.
Siennah and Azrianna began their placement eager to explore new possibilities, develop additional skills, and see whether bike maintenance would spark their interest. Along the way, Siennah and Azrianna strengthened their capabilities and gained confidence to apply for future jobs, with personalised support and mentoring from Lighthouse Youth Projects.
“The support has been fantastic. They’ve been super helpful and patient with any questions that we have. They helped us get our White Card and helped us with our resumes which was really good” – Azrianna, Participant.
During their placement, they developed practical and transferable skills across a range of tasks, including online stock management, inventory picking and packing, and building product knowledge through hands-on work with bike parts and assembly processes. These experiences provided a strong foundation for employment in retail, logistics and other growth sectors.
As Siennah and Azrianna step into ongoing employment, with Siennah starting a new role at a retail store, they carry with them more than just skills. They now bring confidence, community connection and strengthened belief in their own capabilities and potential.
WorkFoundations is an initiative under the Paid Employment Pathways package, backed by a $10 million Australian Government investment to help job seekers with complex barriers enter the workforce. The initiative combines real-world work experience with structured capability development, helping participants build job-ready skills, confidence and a pathway into ongoing employment.
Watch Siennah and Azrianna’s full story
For more information about WorkFoundations and projects like Track2Work, visit WorkFoundations.
Background
Announced in July 2025, 16 organisations are delivering WorkFoundations activities assisting jobseekers facing complex barriers to employment to build their work readiness by providing tailored wrap-around supports while gaining real life work experience and earning real wage.
The Australian Government committed $54 million over five years in the 2024-25 Budget to a new employment pathways package and is taking steps towards larger scale reform of the employment services system. Funded projects support participants to develop work skills in a supportive environment, address vocational and non vocational barriers through tailored services, gain relevant work experience aligned to their skills and interests, and earn real wages.
Paid employment placements will reach across all states and territories, and participant groups, including First Nations people, youth, and women with experience of domestic violence.