Dismantle Supports On My Feet Participants

Dismantle’s mission is to support WA’s at-risk young people, but we acknowledge that in order to change young people’s lives it requires a robust ecosystem of services and support made up by a host of organisations and communities. One such organisation is On My Feet (OMF), an Australian not-for-profit founded by Keegan Crage in November 2014. Operating in Perth and Melbourne, On My Feet has developed a fantastic 6-month program that blends education, exercise, and employment to combat homelessness. On My Feet’s exercise ethos speaks to Dismantle’s cycling roots and Dismantle was excited to donate two bicycles to OMF participants, Ben and Sheldon.

In July, Dismantle met with Kath McQuaide, CEO of On My Feet, where we learnt of their approach to helping the homeless population in Australia. It is estimated that the average Australian is six weeks away from experiencing homelessness themselves and there are enough homeless individuals in Australia to fill the MCG multiple times over. On My Feet assists by welcoming them into a healthy exercising community where they regain their self-esteem, self-worth and sense of purpose. They gain access to a network of caring, friendly volunteers and like-minded people. 

Ben and Sheldon came into Dismantle HQ, where they shared their stories and received their bikes. Sheldon, who has recently started training with OMF had been facing knee troubles that had halted his running training. Excited to try something different and keep him on track during his injury, Sheldon was looking forward to getting on his new bike. 

Kath (CEO), expressed her gratitude, saying, "We are extremely grateful to Dismantle for the two bikes. Sheldon was beaming as he saw his bike, which he swiftly named Black Betty. Thanks for your kindness and patience in explaining aspects of the bike to Sheldon and generously providing him with a helmet, locks, lights, a bell, and spare tires. He is certainly well set up."

Another participant, Ben, has turned his life around with the help of exercise and OMF’s support. Over the last two and a half years, Ben’s commitment to training has been remarkable and now in 2023, he is training for the Sydney Marathon. You can follow his journey on his blog. We can’t wait to hear more about his training and his new cycling passion. 

 If you would like to be a part of the work that Dismantle and On My Feet do, there are plenty of ways to support. Whether you want to volunteer your time or contribute in other ways, visit the Dismantle and On My Feet websites to learn more. 

Dismantle would like to thank On My Feet for letting us play a role in Ben and Sheldon’s story. Dismantle is always excited to work with the wider community to achieve the impact we want to see in WA and beyond, reach out to us if you have any ideas!

Chris' Story

At Dismantle, we often say, the most important job a young person will ever have is their first. That’s why we’ve set out to create social enterprises like ReNew and BikeDr. that provide the engagement and employment opportunities for our young people. One of the inspiring individuals we have had the privilege to work with is Chris, who faced unique obstacles on his path to personal and professional growth.

When Chris joined ReNew at the age of 18, it was his first job, initially grappling with shyness and insecurity. Over the course of one and a half years at ReNew, Chris transformed himself. Even earning himself the title of "weeding king" due to his unwavering reliability and dedication.

Chris’ journey at ReNew is nothing short of inspiring. Starting as a super shy and insecure young man who hardly spoke to anyone, his growth was fantastic to watch. A family friend of Chris noticed, saying "Chris’ transformation from a reserved, shy individual to the young man we now know has been inspiring. It's a testament to his resilience and the tremendous growth during his time at ReNew. I’m excited to see how he continues to grow and learn at his new job.”

As his confidence grew, the JobReadii mentors started encouraging him to explore new employment opportunities. As much as ReNew was disappointed to lose their Weeding King, we were excited to see Chris be able to continue his growth and extend his career. 

Chris’ transformation continues as he is now transitioning to part-time employment at Spudshed, where he works from Monday to Thursday. His journey is a testament to his incredible growth in both confidence and work reliability. Chris applied for the job at Spudshed independently, demonstrating his newfound self-assuredness with encouragement from Jobreadii.

Chris’ mother reached out to ReNew to say “I don’t have the right words to express how much I appreciate you guys giving him a fair go. It really changed his life.” Everyone from Dismantle, ReNew and JobReadii are so proud of Chris and are very excited to continue to hear all the amazing things he will achieve. 

Chris’ story is just one example of the incredible transformations that young people can achieve through Dismantle's programs. If you'd like to learn more about how young people like Chris find their way to Dismantle and grow through our pathway to personal and professional development, please get in touch.  

ReNew Celebrates a Milestone: $1 Million Paid in Youth Employee Wages

Today, we're thrilled to announce a milestone that fills us with immense pride and gratitude. We've recently crossed the incredible threshold of paying over $1 million in wages to our Youth Employees since ReNew’s inception in 2018. This figure is not only important because of the milestone, but because of the status change that it provides. As many of our young people, prior to employment at Dismantle lived in poverty or unstable living conditions. 

Our journey began with the generous support of Impact100 WA, who awarded us a catalyst grant of $100,000 in 2019. This grant ignited the spark that led to ReNew's creation, and today, we've paid ten times the initial investment in award wages to our Youth Employees.

We also want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our clients who have made the social procurement decisions to choose ReNew for their property maintenance needs. Your support directly contributes to our ability to provide employment for the at-risk young people in our community. As we celebrate this milestone, we're already looking ahead with excitement and determination. We’re focused on providing value to clients while staying equally focused on our beneficiaries. We’re on the lookout for new partners who share the same vision of improving our community. 

Lastly, reaching this $1 million milestone in such a short amount of time is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and resilience of our team and the young individuals who are the heart and soul of ReNew. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey so far, and here's to the next $1 million, and the many more after that, as we work together to create a brighter future for our youth and our community.

BikeRescue program in Kununurra

In Term 3 of 2023, BikeRescue mentors, Zach and Brad, ran a successful BikeRescue program at East Kimberly College in Kununurra. The dedicated efforts of seven enthusiastic participants, supported by funding partners, DoTERRA Healing Hands Foundation and Santanol resulted in the repair of bicycles. The program saw remarkable personal growth and development among its participants. 

The core program took place at East Kimberley College, where participants engaged in Dismantle’s award-winning BikeRescue program from Monday to Friday mornings. Additional activations were held to engage the wider community in fix-a-bike workshop at Kununurra PCYC in the afternoons. 

Our mentors received tremendous support from the school staff, enabling a seamless learning experience. All seven participants successfully graduated, each completing their own bike to keep. The participants practised their teamwork, grew self-management skills and developed relationships with each other, working as a team to complete their bikes. 

The after-hours workshops at PCYC were also a huge success, with mentors repairing an average of 8-10 bikes per session, alongside some scooters and skateboards. This format allowed for greater inclusivity, enabling more young people to participate and benefit from the extended program.

One of the participants, Ruben, initially faced challenges engaging with the activities and required additional attention and encouragement to participate fully. Over time, with the support of BikeRescue mentors and school staff, Ruben's engagement grew. His maturity and leadership skills became evident as others quickly followed his instructions, creating a more productive and respectful environment. 

Regional BikeRescue programs hold a special significance for Dismantle due to the disproportionate systemic disadvantages faced by young people in regional Western Australia. As we gear up for several upcoming programs, we are continually seeking support to ensure our impact extends to regional and remote communities.