Minister officially opens Yarra Thrive Hub
The Yarra Thrive Hub is blooming into spring, with Victorian Minister for Jobs Melissa Horne officially opening the site on September 1 following a Welcome to Country from Wurundjeri man Thane Garvey.
The Yarra Thrive Hub is the newest addition to BSL’s longtime home in Fitzroy and has already been busy supporting the local community into meaningful employment, education and training opportunities.
Thrive Hubs offer an open-door and friendly welcome to people looking for employment, education and training support. Development coaches centre the participant in their wraparound approach, which is flexible and tailored. Long-term job and life satisfaction is enabled by factoring in a participant’s goals and aspirations from the start. This foundation in turn helps foster strong local workforces and connected communities.
The Yarra Thrive Hub has been co-designed with the local community, people with lived experience, employers and services in the inner north. Fitzroy Neighbourhood House chief executive Jane Tonkin joined BSL Head of Youth and Adult Transitions Rebecca Wilmott and Minister Horne in addressing the event. In conversation with Yarra Thrive Hub team leader Jade Applebee, former participant Angel shared how the Yarra team had supported her with training and work experience opportunities since she migrated from Burundi in November 2025, taking the time to listen and learn about her interests and work experience in her home country. Angel and fellow participant Esperance shared in cutting the ribbon with Minister Horne.
The Victorian Government is providing $7.8 million over four years to fully fund the Yarra Thrive Hub, the Seymour Thrive Hub and BSL’s three regional Work and Learning Centre partnerships in Seymour, Geelong and Morwell.
BSL is grateful to the Victorian Government for backing us.
In 2025, Thrive Hubs and Work and Learning Centres supported more than 770 people, helping more than 250 people find meaningful employment and providing training to almost 300 people. We expect more than 200 participants a year at Yarra.