Good Cycles

We are proud to release our 2023 Impact Snapshot today on World Youth Skills Day. A lot happened! 💥 52 young people on our Youth Employment Program  💥 97% maintained employment longer than 6 months 💥 We celebrated our 10 year anniversary 💥 We increased our employees by 40% 💥 We restructured our services into four defined divisions: Good Deliveries, Good Spaces, Good Bikes and Good People. 2023 was another big year for us and it is timely to reflect back today, on the annual United Nations day recognising the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. Find out more about our 2023 impact and achievements, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gy9wArqg It’s tough out there, especially for young people facing barriers to employment. This snapshot touches on some challenges our young people face, however we know that young people thrive when given the right opportunities and support. Thank you to our members, business partners, retail customers and supporters. It is with your help that we are able to empower young people to break the employment barriers they face. #WorldYouthSkillsDay2024 #YouthUnemployment #SocialEnterprise #GoodCyclesOfChange

We’re #hiring a new Youth Employment Team Leader in the greater Brisbane area. Due to our expanding partnership with Lime (bikes and scooters) in Coorparoo and Molendinar, we have an exciting opportunity to help establish Good Cycles in southern Queensland. This role will be responsible for managing day-to-day operational requirements of our Youth Employment Program associated to the Lime partnership and overseeing the delivery of high quality, accessible support to employees in our Queensland operations. This role joins a greater team already operating in Melbourne, Geelong and Sydney who are passionate about creating sustainable and meaningful work for young people with jobs that are good for them, their communities and the planet. Since 2013, Good Cycles has been a leader in breaking down employment barriers for marginalised young people. Please apply or share this role, or reach out to Khan Churchill for any further info.

We are proud to share our Social Traders certification has been renewed for another three years. Social Traders protects and nurtures Australia's social enterprise sector, empowering businesses like Good Cycles that put people and planet first.   We also a shout out to all the winners and finalists at the recent Social Traders National Game Changer Awards. Keeping very good company, we were a honourable mention in the Social Procurement Impact Partnership category. Congrats to SisterWorks Inc. and Yarra Trams for the recognition with this award.   The world has changed, and so has business. We are proud to be alongside other trailblazers, visionaries and change-makers in the social enterprise sector, driving us towards a fairer, more equitable Australia!   📸: Just Gold   #Business4Good #SocialEnterprise #GoodCycles #Community 

"Inclusive practices aren't just about accommodating differences; they're about creating environments where everyone can thrive." We recommend listening to the latest episode of 💙 Leanne Butterworth's 'The Professional Empathy' podcast with Emma Shaw from Australian Spatial Analytics. Emma brilliantly explains definitions and language related to neurodivergence, highlighting how we've been conditioned to see 'difference' as a challenge in the individual, rather than recognising it as simply another way of functioning that we should embrace and accommodate.   She explains how traditional hiring can be tough for neurodivergent people and why it's crucial to have empathy and flexible work environments. Emma also highlights how embracing neurodiversity can drive innovation, foster a sense of belonging, and promote mutual growth for both employees and organisations. A great follow on from our Round Table Discussion last week covering the benefits of including Young People in the workplace, for individuals, business and our community. You can find links to the podcast here: https://lnkd.in/gsNXcdYT And catch up on the recording of our Round Table Discussion here: https://lnkd.in/g3WNwimb

"If we make good workplaces for people who've experienced barriers to employment, it means we are making good workplaces for everyone". Last week we held our Round Table Discussion and the release of the research we conducted into understanding young people’s experiences and perspectives on employment. A recording of this engaging discussion and links to the research is now available on our website: https://lnkd.in/g3WNwimb As a job-focused social enterprise, we want to continue to show that business everywhere can be done differently and break the employment barriers that young people face. Please share widely, as this first Round Table may have ended but the discussion certainly hasn’t. If anybody wants to keep talking, talk to us at Good Cycles, talk to each other, and let's keep the discussion going. We again congratulate and thank Hannah Figueroa, our Impact Evaluation Lead, for her excellent research and the insights shared. We also thank Professor Jo Barraket AM and the Melbourne Social Equity Institute for their support, mentorship and the opportunity that allowed this research to take place. The community fellows program enables community organisations like Good Cycles the ability to undertake research of this focus and significance. To create employment pathways for young people, we need to listen and learn from young people themselves. We have so much gratitude for Youth Employment Program participants who shared their stories and perspectives with us in the research. Our thanks to Vaughn, Bonny Bayne, Myfanwy Galloway, Quentin Mercier and Lara Nickless for giving us their time and support of our Round Table Discussion. We appreciate your contributions to this important discussion. #GoodCycles #YoungPeople #Employment #Research #SocialEnterprise

⭐️ TOMORROW AFTERNOON! ⭐️ It's your last chance to get tickets to our free Round Table discussion event. Learn more about: 🔸 the importance of meaningful and sustainable employment for Young People 🔸 the role they can lead in their communities 🔸 how business and Social Enterprise can create opportunities 🔸 the unique challenges they face 🔸 the structural barriers within the labour market 🔸 hear directly from people involved in social procurement This free session is offered in person (Melbourne CBD) or online. Register via https://lnkd.in/gRBVKeQp

VOTE FOR GOOD CYCLES! Good Cycles has been nominated as finalists in TWO categories in the Third Sector Awards. Public voting is now open and we need your help!   We’ve been shortlisted for the Sustainability Leadership Award (Good Cycles: Using the bike for social and environmental change) and the Collaboration Excellence Award for our work with City of Melbourne’s organic waste collection. The Third Sector Awards is the largest and most prestigious awards ceremony recognising excellence within the Australian not-for-profit sector.  For links to vote and more info behind the two awards, visit https://lnkd.in/gbNgtWnZ Voting closes 16 August. Thank you for your support of Good Cycles!

Meet our Round Table event guests!   We are delighted to have the expertise and passion of these partners joining us for a very important discussion around the importance of meaningful youth employment in our community.   Introducing: Bonny Bayne (Strategic Partnerships & Foundation Manager, Stockland) Quentin Mercier (Industry Capability & Inclusion Manager, John Holland) Lara Nickless (Operations Manager, Lime) Myfanwy Galloway (Asia Pacific Retail Training Manager, Trek Bicycle Corporation) When: Wed 7 August Time: 4pm Where: Melbourne and online Cost: Free (registration essential at https://lnkd.in/gRBVKeQp)

Job Opportunity: Youth Employment Team Leader, South East Qld   Good Cycles has recently commenced operations in southern Queensland (Coorparoo and Molendinar) through our partnership with Lime. In this newly created role, the Team Leader will be responsible for managing day-to-day operational requirements of our Youth Employment Program and overseeing the delivery of high quality, accessible support to employees in our Queensland operations.   This role presents an exciting opportunity to be a part of establishing Good Cycles and will require the ability to develop strong networks with youth and community support organisations, corporate partners and other social enterprises.   Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gib3Ce8V

FREE EVENT: What role does businesses and social enterprise play in creating job opportunities for Young People who face employment barriers? This Round Table discussion will focus on the importance of meaningful employment that helps young people who have experienced marginalisation to contribute to the community around them. The event will open with a presentation from Hannah Figueroa (Impact Evaluation Lead - Good Cycles) on her research with the Melbourne Social Equity Institute in understanding unemployment and structural inequality experienced by Young People with intersecting barriers to employment. When: Wed 7 August at 4pm Where: Melbourne and online Moderator: Kirra Johnson (Executive Lead People & Impact - Good Cycles) Round table contributors: Quentin Mercier (Social and Sustainable Procurement - John Holland) Bonny Bayne (Head of Stockland CARE Foundation - Stockland) Lara Nickless (Operations Manager - Lime Bikes Australia) A must for anyone who also believes that everyone has the right to gain safe and meaningful work in businesses that prioritise the wellbeing of employees and communities.