Yesterday we were joined by the Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services, Natasha Maclaren-Jones at the GWS GIANTS HQ to launch the Ladder Step Up Sydney Program Impact Report 2022 and independent Program Evaluation.

“Since its launch the Ladder Step Up Sydney program has been doing excellent work, which can clearly be seen in the recently published impact report and independent evaluation,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

Since establishment in 2017, the Ladder Step Up Sydney program has supported 213 young people, who have achieved some fantastic outcomes:

• 100 per cent of young people reported an improvement in social functioning
• 100 per cent of young people reported an improvement in daily living skills
• 100 per cent of young people reported an improvement in self-efficacy
• 100 per cent of young people reported having identified and tested vocational pathways

A detailed outline of the program and participants outcomes are included in the Impact Report which can be accessed here.

In addition, the Step Up Sydney Program Evaluation undertaken by the Translational Research and Social Innovation (TReSI) Team at Western Sydney University has importantly proven that these outcomes are not just sustained over the course of the program, but young people are sustaining these outcomes into the future. You can access a snapshot of the research here. 

Yesterday's celebration also coincides with the announcement that the program has received an additional 12-month funding from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice to June 2023.

Ladder CEO, Stephanie De Campo welcomed the funding announcement from the Government and acknowledges the ongoing support from the Department.   

“Ladder truly believes that the Ladder Step Up Sydney program is making a real difference to the lives of young people in out-of-home care and meeting a genuine gap in the sector. I would like to acknowledge and thank the Department of Communities and Justice, our program funder. The team we work with across the Department are extremely supportive and have directly contributed to the success of the program.” Ms. De Campo said.

Tim, a program graduate and Ladder’s newest youth mentor attributed the program to shaping the person he has become today.

“I want to tell other young people to take this as a great opportunity to learn a lot of new things and new skills,” Tim said.