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10 Years of Change video tells the Good Cycles Story and Champions Our Young People

We have been steadily growing as a social enterprise these past ten years, so to celebrate, we’ve gathered together staff and crew to feature in a 10 Years of Change video. The video shines a spotlight on each division of our organisation, demonstrating the Good Cycles of Change that began in 2013.

Showcasing our humble beginnings teaching young people to repair bikes, then highlighting the expansion of our social enterprise to provide jobs for young people facing barriers to employment. As you will see, the video champions our Young People, by supporting them to acquire transferable goals to reach their own goals. We will continue to develop new ways to create employment to makes a positive impact on community and on the planet.

"Our mission is to create safe and meaningful work that create good cycles of change within out community and protect our planet."
Jaison Hoernel
Good Cycles CEO

We’d like to send our gratitude to the wonderful folks at Cormac Creative Studios for bring our vision to life.

A special shout out to our very own John Bech, for providing his voice over for the video.

We’d also like to thank our generous partners for their continued support during our Ten Years of Change. Each and every one of you has made a positive impact to the lives of young people facing barriers to employment.

Video Transcript:

Spoken by John Bech

It all started in 2013. An idea born over a cup of tea to use the bicycle for positive change. Loretta Curtin and Luke Wright taught people how to fix bikes and break through barriers to employment. Through the Pedal Empowerment Program,  we up-skilled young people, serviced thousands of bikes and donated bicycles to help asylum seekers get mobile.

In 2015, we took over Bicycle Training Australia. Mixing Trainees with young people who were battling our justice system, new to Australia, or facing long-term unemployment.

In 2016, we opened the community bike hub in Docklands and our new CEO wins us the Melbourne Bike Share servicing contract.

In 2017, Good Cycles expands even further, opening its second community bike hub – this time in Geelong. But we didn’t stop there!

In 2018, we begin to deliver services on bikes. Everything from car share cleaning, collecting organic food waste, solar bin checks, deliveries and logistics, asset management and more. Creating meaningful jobs to empower young people while removing trucks and cars from our streets.

It’s 2021 and we go beyond the bike: acquiring Open Spaces, a commercial landscaping business to help young people find jobs landscaping, collecting litter and mowing grass for the entire length of the Western Ring Road. Our Youth Employment Program provides countless hours of employment, coaching and support.

But we didn’t stop there! In 2022, we opened our fourth bike shop at Nightingale in Brunswick and we are servicing all the Lime share bikes across Melbourne and Sydney.

Which brings us here – The Purpose Precinct, a hub that showcases the wares of over 30 social enterprises. Supporting the sector, while employing and training more young people.

10 years on, we are still innovating to create meaningful jobs. Good jobs that break through barriers to employment, that nurture our community, are good for the planet, and create Good Cycles of change.

Want to get involved in all things Good Cycles?

Enquire about our membership packages for 2024!

Memberships for 2024
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2023 was another fantastic year, with plenty of highlights

We want to take this opportunity to thank our amazing staff for all they’ve accomplished this year. Our Good People make us proud to be a part of the Good Cycles family. In fact, we saw a 40% increase in employment – amazing! We’re privileged to ensure safe and meaningful work for all our employees, so watch this space to see what’s in the works in the new year. Now follow us down memory lane and relive this year’s stand out moments.

 

February saw us launch our newest bike shop in Brunswick. Located in the Nightingale Evergreen building, nestled by the Upfield Bike Path, we have been welcomed by thousands of cyclists this year. We are so thankful to Nightingale Housing for supporting us throughout this journey. A special shout out to Woodbeast and YMCA Rebuild for the countless hours fitting out the bike shop – without you none of this would be possible.

June played host to the annual Melburn Roobaix, an exhilarating fun ride that twists and turns through Melbourne’s inner north. We provided fun and support for participants riding in costumes and all types of contraptions. Many cyclists received complimentary 3 month memberships to all of our bike shops as a thank you for participating. A brilliant ride was capped off with the news that Melburn Roobaix had raised $500 for FoodBank Australia.

 

In July, Good Cycles began its partnership with Brunswick Cycling Club. A fantastic opportunity for us to broaden our social impact and reach through passionate cyclists of all ages.

September was jam packed: we were featured on ABC News and Tern Australia partnered with Good Cycles. Tern’s range of Bosch powered e-bikes and cargo bikes will give you peace of mind since they’re accessible and comfortable to ride. You can find our range of Tern e-bikes and cargo bikes online and in store, where our friendly retail staff will show you how easy it is to replace your second car.

A few of our staff had the chance to be featured on ABC News as our FOGO Program stole headlines for its innovative organic waste collection service operating in Melbourne CBD’s cafes and restaurants. Reducing food waste in landfill as well as setting career goals in the equally innovative Youth Employment Program, everyday heroes showing out.


October’s Ride2Work Day was a huge success. We provided free safety checks for cyclists along the Docklands and MCEC as well as on-site servicing and tune ups. Free snacks from our friends at Bicycle Network and Lime Australia kept spirits high on what was a cheerful and memorable morning.

At the end of October,  Minister for Employment Vicki Ward officially launched the Purpose Precinct at its new home in F Shed, Queen Victoria Market. The social enterprise retail space is Melbourne’s one stop shop for gifts with purpose – stocking clothing and accessories, homewares, and kitchenware from Victorian social enterprises. Another step in building Melbourne’s circular economy and providing safe employment for young people, so come say hello to our staff the next time you’re at QVM.

November was a milestone month as we had our 10 Year Celebration, where we recognised 10 Years of Change and enjoyed the social impact we have made over the years. A great turn out and lovely to see so many faces on the night, be sure to check out our social media for more photos of videos and read our 10 Year Recap at Good News.

December rolled around the corner as we celebrated Open Spaces turning 2! The Good people at Open Spaces are dedicated to maintaining the lawns, bike paths and roads along the M80/Western Ring Road, working in all weather conditions and motivating all of us to go above and beyond. Congratulations on this milestone and keep up the good work!

Honourable Mentions:

Watch this space for all the good news and we hope to see around in 2024!

Stay safe and have a festive holiday season!

Thanks for your continued support, we can’t wait to show you what’s in store for 2024!

Want to get involved in all things Good Cycles?

Enquire about our membership packages for 2024!

Memberships for 2024
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We farewell one of our Youth Coaches, Jordan

Hailing from Scotland, Jordan joined Good Cycles in 2022. But as it would be, coming from faraway lands meant the lure to jump in a van and add to his Australian experience could not be ignored forever. Before he left us to begin what would surely be an exciting journey, we asked him for his insights and reflections of his time working with Good Cycles.

Tell us a little about what your role has involved, and what a typical day might entail as a Youth Coach?

As far as a ‘typical day’ goes, there’s no such thing at Good Cycles (and that’s exactly why I have loved it so much!). I usually begin my day facilitating toolbox talks with our employees in our City Services division. We cover topics such as mental health, financial literacy, personal safety, as well as completing the ever-important task of drinking coffee and having a good old chin wag.

I would then be out and about meeting with young people to facilitate coaching sessions, either at the beginning, during or after their shift. These sessions are goal focused and allow our young people to concentrate on what is important to them. This can include (but is certainly not limited to) exploring career options, enrolling in further education, saving for a new car, or just having a general catch up to see how their week is going.

Additionally, these coaching sessions allow me to empower young people to access service provision by referring them on to a multitude of our multi agency partners. Although predominantly based in North Melbourne, I usually find myself bouncing around our different sites to meet with young people. I like to refer to it as the Tour de Good Cycles: I might start my day off in North Melbourne, cycle to our Goldsbrough Lane store, then to our Queen Victoria Market store, and finish off at our Sunshine depot. For someone who hates sitting still, this suits me perfectly. Plus, all of the cycling helps to balance out my weekend pizza habit.

Having worked in the public sector as well as the NFP space, what key differences have you discovered while working with Good Cycles?

Nobody is stagnant. The Good Cycles crew are the most refreshing bunch I’ve ever worked with. Ideas are constantly being thrown around. Will it work? Won’t it work? Who cares, let’s try it (it usually works well). Rules can be broken, and my rebellious streak loves that. If a job role isn’t quite suiting a young person, we can tailor it to suit their needs. This flexibility has really helped me form extremely close working relationships with our young people in a way that may be difficult in a straight-laced public sector role. Most importantly, it allows them to thrive.

...The Good Cycles crew are the most refreshing bunch I’ve ever worked with. Ideas are constantly being thrown around. Will it work? Won’t it work? Who cares, let's try it (it usually works well). Rules can be broken, and my rebellious streak loves that.

Jordan

What have you personally loved about working with Good Cycles?

I’ve really loved the genuine ‘can do’ attitude of each staff member. There is no real hierarchy, everyone treats everyone with the utmost respect which is often hard to find in the working world. I’ve felt like my ideas have been listened to, and there’s always someone to rely on if something doesn’t quite go to plan (especially with my bike! Shout out to Charlie and his crew of mechanics). Good Cycles moves at the speed of lightning. In my time here, we have grown incredibly quickly in terms of creating positive opportunities for young people, which is exactly why I applied for the role. We consistently help young people realise their true potential and flourish. What more could I ask for?

Thinking about your role and the young people you’ve been able to assist, what experiences will you take with you from your time with Good Cycles?

There have been too many. From supporting young people with their first job, helping facilitate positive outcomes during coaching sessions, riding along with the crew on shift, celebrating days of significance, supporting positive transitions into further education and new careers, and of course the staff BBQ’s. In Scotland we don’t really have the weather for BBQ’s, so when I first took on the role of head chef, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I can wholeheartedly say I now know how to cater to 15 hungry young people (with a little help from grill-master Cory).

Are you interested in joining Good Cycles and supporting young people through coaching and skills development? 

Looking to join a supportive workplace, and join an organisation committed to improving the lives of young people? 

Check out our relevant available roles over on our ‘Good Jobs’ page.

View our employment opportunities
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Happy One Year Anniversary Nathan

Nathan's Journey to Sustainable Employment and Personal Growth with Good Cycles

Nathan, a high school graduate, struggled to find sustainable work. After leaving high school, he was in a vicious cycle of inconsistent work and an unstable income. Determined to work and make himself more employable, he tried extra study and working in different industries, but Nathan’s struggle continued and still faced barriers to employment . His life took a positive turn when he joined Good Cycles in our Open Spaces division.

Welcome to Good Cycles

In June of last year, Nathan learned about Good Cycles through Djerriwarrh, an employment support organisation that helped Nathan refine his CV and introduced him to our Open Spaces team. Through Open Spaces, Good Cycles created a range of new gardening and mowing job opportunities and welcomed Nathan for an interview. From the get-go, our “relaxed and welcoming” interview process made him feel at ease, and Nathan was offered a gardening role at Good Cycles, joining our Youth Employment Program.

Social Impact via the Youth Employment Program

Our Youth Employment Program is designed to support people in Nathan’s position with coaching and skills development alongside real-world work experience. One of the key aspects of the program is Nathan’s weekly check-ins with Jordan – one of Good Cycles’ youth employment coaches. These sessions allow Jordan and Nathan to set work goals and then apply the relevant training or coaching required. Currently, Jordan is supporting Nathan’s application for a Cert III in Horticulture at Kangan Institute.

"(Working at Good Cycles has) not only provided me with a stable source of income but also a sense of purpose and personal growth”.

Nathan, Good Cycles Open Spaces team member

12 Months On

Maintaining employment for 6 months is a significant milestone for people who have faced barriers to employment. In June 2023, we’re proud to celebrate Nathan’s one year anniversary with Good Cycles. His team members have seen growth in his communication and teamwork skills and have also witnessed his personal efforts to develop consistent routines. Through his commitment, Nathan has found independence, financial stability, and the means to “treat himself”.

Nathan hopes to continue his career with the gardening team at Good Cycles and work towards operating large machinery such as mowers and tractors.

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Sustainable Employment

Nathan’s journey to sustainable employment with Good Cycles highlights the importance of creating meaningful jobs within a safe and inclusive workplace. Nathan has acquired new skills, certifications and more importantly, a sense of belonging. He added that his experience with the team and Jordan has “provided him with a stable source of income and a sense of purpose and personal growth”.

Nathan’s dedication to his job has not gone unnoticed. His manager, Brett, has praised him for his reliability, for never being late to work, and for never missing a day since he started.

“I love my job with Good Cycles, it has allowed me to see myself in the future and gain the qualifications needed to get there.” ~ Nathan