Youth Employment & Social Impact

Overview

Sydney Street Projects (SSP) delivers paid, practical work that cleans up our community while building real skills, confidence and pathways to employment.

Our Youth Employment & Social Impact program combines supervised on‑the‑job training, documented assessment and SSP Certificates of Proficiency signed by Justin Carter to recognise workplace‑assessed competence and professionalism.

The program is designed so participants leave with tangible evidence of capability, improved employability and local referees.

Our Mission – Our Purpose

Sydney Street Projects was created with a simple belief: Good people sometimes hit tough times, and everyone deserves a fair go, a bit of support, and someone in their corner. After many years working various environments, Justin has seen how quickly life can change.

Work dries up. Confidence fades. Circumstances shift. Sometimes people just lose their footing for a while, not because they’re lazy or unwilling, but because life has taken them down a track they never expected.

This program exists for those people.

It exists for the battlers. For the ones trying to find their feet again.

For older Aussies who feel forgotten.

For young people who need a chance to prove themselves.

For anyone who just needs someone to say, “What you’re going through is tough and if I can help, I’ll certainly try my best.”

Our purpose is to offer real support, not judgement. To create a place where people feel respected, valued and understood.

To help people rediscover the confidence, pride and happiness they once had. To be the business you can ring when you don’t know where else to turn, a business that listens, cares, and doesn’t have the blinkers on.

Sydney Street Projects isn’t here to be a typical local business.

It’s here to be a community‑minded, empathy‑driven, practical helping hand for people in the Upper Hunter who deserve another shot at feeling capable, useful and hopeful again.  

If someone needs a chance, we’ll do everything we can to try to give them one.

Short and Mid‑Term Program

What we are ‘in progess’ developing the framework for delivering now.

1.        Paid placements on community clean‑ups, junk removal, yard and shed clearouts, and property preparation.

2.   Practical skill modules delivered on the job: trailer coupling & load restraint; ride‑on mower operation; safe loading/unloading; basic excavator familiarisation under supervision; PPE use and WHS induction.

3.   Work readiness modules: attendance & reliability, communication, customer service, teamwork and time management.

4.   Employer‑issued recognition: SSP Certificates of Proficiency documenting assessed tasks, dates, assessor sign‑offs and photographic evidence. Certificates clearly state they are employer‑issued and not nationally recognised AQF qualifications.

How a placement runs

1.        Referral & intake: Candidate referred by Workforce Australia, council or community partner; SSP completes intake and baseline skills check.

2.       Induction & safety briefing: WHS induction, site rules and PPE issued.

3.       On‑the‑job training: Supervised shifts with task lists and evidence capture (photos, assessor notes).

4.       Practical assessment: Assessor signs off against SSP competency checklists.

5.       Certificate issued: Participant receives an SSP Certificate of Proficiency and a short skills summary for their CV.

Short‑term benefits

• Immediate paid work and routine.

• Tangible evidence of capability for job applications.

• Increased confidence and local references.

• Faster pathway to casual or entry‑level roles.

Long‑Term Vision

What we build toward – our dream for the SSP!

1.        RTO partnerships and accredited pathways: Collaborate with a Registered Training Organisation to deliver selected nationally recognised units and Statements of Attainment where appropriate.

2.   Formal traineeships and adult traineeship options: Structured training contracts combining on‑the‑job learning with accredited training.

3.   Expanded credential suite: Accredited machinery tickets, micro‑credentials and industry‑aligned short courses delivered through partners.

4.   Social procurement and council contracts: Secure regular work for participants through council and community contracts including illegal dumping clean‑ups and housing support for Home In Place.

5.   Sustainable social enterprise model: Revenue from commercial work funds training, supervision and program growth.

Long‑term benefits

1.        Accredited credentials that carry weight with employers.

2.   Greater access to funding and referrals.

3.   Clear progression from entry‑level work to licensed roles.

4.   Stronger partnerships with Workforce Australia and Muswellbrook Council.

Certificates, Assessment and Records

Examples of certificate types we hope to be able to issue:

1.        SSP Certificate of Proficiency — Trailer Towing & Load Restraint

2.       SSP Certificate of Proficiency — Ride‑on Mower Operation

3.       SSP Certificate of Achievement — Work Readiness & Professional Conduct

What each certificate would contain:

1.        Participant name; module title; list of assessed tasks; dates; assessor name and signature (Justin Carter or authorised assessor).

2.       Mandatory disclaimer in bold: “Employer‑issued certificate. Not a nationally recognised AQF qualification.”

3.       A short skills summary suitable for CVs and Workforce Australia referrals.

Assessment standards:

1.        Use task‑based checklists with clear pass/fail criteria and space for evidence (photos, notes).

2.   Require supervised practical demonstration and at least one workplace shift showing consistent behaviour.

3.   Keep participant files with intake form, attendance, assessment checklists, photos and certificate copy for 7 years.

Sample certificate text

SSP Certificate of Proficiency
This certifies that [Name] has demonstrated the listed workplace skills under supervised assessment by Sydney Street Projects.
Module: Trailer Towing & Load Restraint
Assessed tasks: safe coupling; electric brake check; load distribution; tie‑down technique; NSW road compliance.
This is an employer‑issued certificate and is not a nationally recognised AQF qualification.
Signed: Justin Carter, Director — Sydney Street Projects
Date: ___

Compliance, Insurance and Legal Safeguards

Key legal boundaries

1.        Do not present SSP certificates as AQF or nationally recognised credentials. Issuing Statements of Attainment or AQF qualifications requires an RTO and compliance with ASQA/AQF rules including USI collection and formal issuance procedures.

2.   Traineeships require formal training contracts and RTO involvement under NSW rules; SSP will not represent employer certificates as traineeship qualifications.

WHS and insurance

• Maintain site inductions, PPE, supervision ratios and incident reporting.

• Confirm participants are covered under SSP insurance for the specific duties they perform. Update insurer with program details and obtain written confirmation of cover for supervised trainees.

• Keep toolbox talk records and daily supervisor sign‑offs.

Operational safeguards

• Clear certificate wording in bold on every certificate.

• Documented assessment evidence: photos, assessor sign‑offs, task lists and dates.

• Assessor training: ensure assessors apply checklists consistently and record outcomes accurately.

• Record retention: store participant files for at least 7 years.

Risk mitigations

• Train assessors and staff on consistent marking and record keeping.

• Use MOUs with referral partners to clarify expectations.

• Consult an RTO or solicitor before offering accredited pathways.

Partnerships, Impact Metrics and Next Steps

Partnerships to pursue

1.        Workforce Australia — agree referral criteria and evidence requirements.

2.   Muswellbrook Council — social procurement, concession frameworks and community clean‑up contracts.

3.   Home In Place — targeted support for pensioners and vulnerable tenants.

4.   Local RTOs — scope accredited units for future delivery.

Concession policy

1.        Offer pensioner concession rates for eligible residents; align eligibility checks and terms with council guidance and Home In Place needs.

Impact metrics to track

1.        Number of paid placements completed.

2.   Certificates issued and types.

3.   Participant progression into paid roles or accredited training.

4.   Community outcomes such as tonnes of waste removed and properties serviced.

5.   Partner referrals and funding secured.

Immediate next steps

1.        Select first three certificates to launch (recommended: Trailer Towing & Load Restraint; Ride‑on Mower Operation; Work Readiness).

2.   Create assessor checklists mapped to each certificate and a participant file template.

3.   Draft certificate templates with the required disclaimer and Justin’s signature block.

4.   Confirm insurance cover with your insurer for participants performing supervised machinery tasks.

5.   Contact a local RTO to discuss future accredited pathways and evidence requirements.

6.   Engage Workforce Australia and Muswellbrook Council with a one‑page program brief and MOUs for referrals and concession arrangements.

Program Status Disclaimer

This page is under development. SSP is actively refining the start‑to‑finish approach for the Youth Employment & Social Impact program and finalising policies, assessor guides and partnership agreements.

The program described here reflects our current plans and intentions and will be updated as we confirm insurance, legal and RTO arrangements.

Call to action

If you represent Workforce Australia, Muswellbrook Council, Home In Place, a local RTO or a community partner and would like to collaborate, or if you want the SSP program brief, assessor checklists or certificate templates, contact Justin Carter at sydneystreetelectrical@gmail.com or phone 0438 245 206.