Opportunity Pathways

Evolve Housing has been delivering the Opportunity Pathways program in the South Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains regions since March 2019.

The program, funded by the Department of Communities and Justice, aims to support social housing clients to access training and work opportunities, with the ultimate goal of securing permanent employment and potentially moving into private market housing.

The program is free and voluntary for people aged 17 years and over who are:

Living in public, community or Aboriginal community housing, or

Receiving a Rent Choice subsidy, or

An approved social housing applicant on the NSW

Housing Register.

Evolve Housing delivers the program as part of a consortium including MAX Solutions, Olympus Solutions/Ability Options (employment partners), Macquarie Community College (education and training partners) and Relationships Australia NSW.

Participants can join the program by signing up directly or by being referred by a service provider.

People who express interest in the program undergo an intake assessment to ensure that they are eligible, understand what the program involves, and are ready to look for work. Once admitted into the program, participants are paired with a Case Coordinator who works with them to create a Training, Employment and Housing Plan that is tailored to their needs, goals and aspirations. The program can also provide financial assistance for job-related costs such as transport, licences and work attire.

While every participant has a unique situation, financial assistance has most often been provided in relation to transport costs (fuel and/or opal card funds), enrolment into training courses, and help getting online with a laptop.

The program has been so popular that it is currently over capacity, and the team recently hired a new member. This brings the total number of staff to 8: 4 Case Coordinators for the South Western

Sydney region 2 for the Nepean Blue Mountains region, and 2 intake officers.

“I am very passionate about the Opportunity Pathways program, it has had a huge impact on the participants in being able to change their lives and knowing that this program can really assist them in achieving their dreams and goals,” said Kathy Parry, Team Leader for Opportunity Pathways.

Over the past financial year, 521 people were referred to us as potential candidates for the Opportunity Pathways program, with 219 of these proceeding to enrol. So far, 69 program participants have secured employment, including seven people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

In addition, 88 participants have been enrolled into training or education courses in a diverse range of fields including Responsible Service of Alcohol, traffic control, first aid, hospitality, business, retail, disability support and more.