Ladder celebrates four years of helping youth to brighter futures in the Latrobe Valley
Ladder is a not-for-profit youth organisation, started in 2007 by AFL players to help young people aged 16-25 engage in education, employment and training.
In 2017, the Ladder Step Up Latrobe Valley began thanks to funding from the Latrobe Valley Authority, Victorian State Government and in kind support from the AFL and on Thursday May 5, it celebrated its fourth birthday.
Today, more than 178 youth alumni have graduated from the Step up Latrobe Valley program and more than four in five young people have re-engaged in education, employment and training.
The program has many success stories such as Emma who says the skills she gained at Ladder were invaluable to helping her interview successfully for jobs.
Ladder involves youth completing a six-week intensive learning development program focusing on independent living, health and wellbeing, community connection, education, training and employment. They then re-engage their community in education, training, secure employment, complete job tasters, mock interviews, industry tours and explore volunteering opportunities.
Across Australia Ladder has helped thousands of youth and $25 of every AFL player's match payment is given to Ladder which is the official charity of the AFL players association.
Latrobe Valley Authority CEO, Chris Buckingham said:
"Ladder is such a great program to help young people with confidence to understand their talents, strengths and skills and take the next steps?to training and employment. We wish all of our Ladder graduates the very best with their future."
Ladder alumni and Latrobe Valley Authority staff help cut the cake to celebrate four years of successful youth employment and training in the Latrobe Valley.