[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: Social service agencies have created more than 400 training opportunities for recent graduates in recent months through SGUnited’s Internship Program, Minister of Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said on Monday (September 28).
The program, announced in March during the Resilience Budget, aims to help recent and new graduates gain work experience amid weaker hiring sentiment due to the COVID-19 slowdown.
READ: Government to set aside S $ 100 million for internship program amid COVID-19
Masagos said he is encouraged to see more people join the sector, with the social services workforce steadily increasing from 15,000 in 2017 to 16,500 in 2019.
The new trainees bring “energy, fresh perspectives and talent” to the agencies, the minister said.
“At the same time, apprentices are developing their skills and gaining invaluable knowledge. This will prepare them well to join our industry or their next job opportunity,” he added.
READ: MSF will strengthen social safety nets to ensure ‘no Singaporean is left behind’ amid COVID-19: Masagos Zulkifli
Social service agencies should continue to make use of schemes such as SGUnited’s Middle Career Support Package and the Job Growth Incentive, Mr. Masagos said.
“This is a good opportunity for our sector to hire professionals in the middle of their careers from other sectors with experience in technology, finance, human resources or others, who seek to make the change.”
SECOND TRANCH OF THE INVICTUS FUND
Mr. Masagos spoke at the virtual launch of the second tranche of the Invictus Fund.
The fund was introduced in April, raising money from the community to help social service agencies cope with the COVID-19 situation, such as maintaining their operations and investing in technology to better serve their users.
Minister of Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli delivered his speech through Zoom on September 28, 2020. (Image: National Council of Social Service)
About S $ 9.2 million has been raised from the community as of Sept. 21, the National Council for Social Service (NCSS) said in a press release Monday.
It also noted the government’s S $ 18.3 million recharge.
READ: Fortitude Budget: Additional S $ 800 million reserved for COVID-19 support grant; One-time utility credit of S $ 100
About S $ 6 million from the first tranche of the Invictus Fund was disbursed to 89 social service agencies in June of this year. NCSS said 82 percent of the funds went to support agencies to keep their services accessible to users.
The remaining 18% went to developing agencies’ digital infrastructure and capacity for better connectivity and IT security.
Examples include equipping employees with the appropriate software and hardware to ensure continuity of service and accessibility to your customers while working from home during the “breaker” period.
Seniors and vulnerable customers also received prepaid cards to ensure connectivity to critical services.
One grantee, Lutheran Community Care Services (LCCS), said the funding enabled it to digitize work processes. For example, members of the public can now submit digital applications, while service users can access support through virtual interviews.
“The Invictus Fund allowed us to adapt to continue impacting the lives of vulnerable children and prospective adoptive parents through our work,” said LCCS Executive Director Justin Mui.
NCSS also announced Monday the launch of a comprehensive technology hub, called Tech-and-GO! – helping social service agencies on their journey of transformation.
READ: Approximately S $ 11.5 million raised under The Courage Fund for those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak
The center makes IT equipment and technology more accessible to agencies by listing outlined pre-funded solutions, reducing the time it takes for social service agencies to search for suitable digital solutions.
It also offers one-to-one diagnostic and advisory services, as well as curated training courses at the strategic, managerial and operational levels, NCSS said.
“NCSS will work with our social service agencies so that we can all emerge stronger, not only adapting to the next normal, but also being prepared to meet the challenges of the future,” said NCSS President Anita Fam.
