Peppita Smedley

Motivated youth worker offering several years of experience in clinical and behavioral roles. Adept at supporting emotional, social and personal growth of young individuals. Caring professional supports clinical teams in implementing care plans. Excellent time management, team collaboration, and program development skills.

Experienced business leader with demonstrated strategic planning, problem-solving and team-building abilities. Successful at bringing in and training staff to handle customer and business needs. Motivational, diplomatic and respectful of people from different backgrounds.

Seasoned small business owner with several years of experience in operations management, business strategy and financial management. Demonstrated success in capitalizing on new trends and technologies to drive business development initiatives and achieve sales goals.

• 2001 Certificate II in Commercial Cookery completed at Chisholm Tafe Dandenong
• 2006 Certificate IIII in Community Services (Protective Care) competed at Chisholm Tafe Berwick
• Current Construction Induction Card
• 2024 Completed Traffic Management License
• 2024 Current Police Check
• 2024 Current Working with Childrens Check
• Crrent Drivers License

• Originally employed as a receptionist at Young Jobs Australia, I soon identified the necessity for a personalized approach to support our disadvantaged youth. Utilizing my background with young individuals, I suggested to the leadership the establishment of a bespoke program, conceived through detailed discussions with each participant. Noticing these youths slipping through the gaps within a specialized youth organization, I initiated and directed a successful program targeting those at high risk, absent from school and community. With approval and oversight from my operations manager and CEO, I aided these youths in overcoming various challenges. They were reintegrated into the community via activities such as preparing meals for the elderly at a local care home, engaging in team-building obstacle courses, and completing educational tasks that resulted in certification upon fulfilling the required criteria, which I evaluated and recorded for our VRQA specialist. The majority of participants earned certificates, with most advancing to employment or further education, which I oversaw and was supported by the company. I independently conceived, organized, and spearheaded this project, leveraging my personal insights to guide them towards a future focused on health, community, and either education or employment. Held in high regard by peers and the youth, I accomplished an 80% success rate in re-engaging these individuals in employment or studies after prolonged disconnection from society due to various hurdles. I kept comprehensive records, and the program's effectiveness ensured its adoption by the company even after relocating to Traralgon.
• During my time at Young Jobs, I realized the importance of educating young people about the consequences of leaving school early. We saw many early school leavers who didn't understand their responsibilities or the legal implications of leaving school without being employed or studying while on government support. As the only career pathway provider for youth in the area, and overseeing most young people on government aid, I suggested we educate local high school students about their responsibilities and options before they decide to leave school. I brought up the idea of holding sessions at the local secondary college to discuss legal obligations and career opportunities with my operations manager and CEO. Once approved, I coordinated with the school to independently organize and deliver the presentations. I developed engaging content, including flyers and PowerPoint slides, and incentivized active participation. My session at Pakenham Secondary College informed 900 students about their choices and local resources for various issues. I handed out detailed lists of local services, covering counseling for substance misuse and gender identity concerns. I also offered private discussions after the presentation for those with individual issues. Additionally, I held a session for teachers, providing insights into unnoticed student challenges and advising on referrals to suitable services, offering my personal support when needed.
• Eventually, I became the senior consultant and managed the Pakenham office at Young Jobs Australia, where I supervised all staff, handled hiring and firing, trained employees, continued to develop programs, and participated in regular meetings with the operations manager and CEO regarding site improvements, complaints, and conflicts between staff or clients. I also trained new staff in OHS procedures, met and measured KPIs, approved client expenditures, maintained detailed notes and incident reports, adhered to mandatory reporting and duty of care, all while upholding a high standard of client privacy and proper procedures when discussing client needs with external organizations and supports. My site was the only one in our company and the entire region to achieve a 5-star rating. Unfortunately, star ratings were averaged across all our offices, and due to the lower performance of other sites, we lost our government contract, which ultimately ended my tenure there.
• In 2006, while completing my studies in protective care, the goal was to undertake a six-week placement in a residential facility for young people in out-of-home care. However, being eight months pregnant at the time, this was considered too risky, so I completed my placement at Barry Smith and Associates. There, I received approval to fulfill my placement requirements in a relatively safe environment. I reached out to Pakenham Secondary College to work two days a week with their truant and at-risk youth at our offices. I designed and ran a six-week program, similar to my previous work at Young Jobs, but not entirely the same due to the limitations imposed by my pregnancy. The program was highly successful, and I established an excellent rapport with the school, and went on to offer career advice as well as mor3 personal meeting with students and teachers for at risk youth. i worked closely with thre school my entire career at young jobs.
• While employed at Young Jobs Australia, my successful programs led to an invitation from the CEO to work in Traralgon with Year 9 students at risk of permanent truancy. I developed and tailored a program specifically for them, working with these students for nine weeks, two days a week, which resulted in their successful return to school.ich benefited my career later on.

I am a hardworking, quick-learning, and highly professional individual who has been passionate about working with youth since the age of 16. My experience is both lived and professional, and I find it easy to build rapport and trust with at-risk young people quickly. I excel in my job, and my primary motivation is to help others and use my experiences to guide them in the right direction. I am not only passionate about my work but also innovative, and I have had significant success in improving the lives of young people. I took a break to raise my fourth child and then started my own business before the COVID pandemic presented challenges. After settling my youngest son into preparatory school, I explored career options and realized that youth work will always hold a special place in my heart. I am currently pursuing an online Bachelor's degree in Psychological Sciences to enhance my understanding, but I am considering switching to Criminology to aid in my youth work endeavors.