Pathways to Employment Fund 2026 recipient: Killara Community Outreach & Development Program

We are excited to announce continued funding from the Inner North Community Foundation!!

Pathways to Employment – a major annual grant round – is a proud partnership between the Cities of Darebin, Merri-bek and Yarra, the Inner North Community Foundation and IntoWork Australia to address disadvantage through employment opportunities in the inner north of Melbourne. Having supported the Pathways to Employment grants round since 2007, IntoWork re-affirmed this partnership in 2021 committing to an annual contribution of $223,000 to the Fund and additional funding that contributes to the Foundation’s core operational costs.

The Killara Outreach & Development Program provides a culturally-safe access point for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in Yarra, Darebin, and Merri-bek, to engage with mainstream employment and support services. The program is led by James Williams, a proud Yorta Yorta, Wiradjuri, Gunditjmara, and Gunai Kurnai man with deep connections to Fitzroy and the inner-north of Naarm. James works to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to pre-employment support, training and up-skilling opportunities, mentorship programs, and links to relevant social and welfare assistance.

Some of the people James works with connect with the Ngarrgu Djerring Training & Employment Intake Program, which provides a culturally safe, six-week job readiness program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young peoples looking to enter the workforce. This can lead to employment at Ngarrgu Djerring Cafe or external industry partners.