CISERR
The Creative Industries, Social Enterprise, Repair and Restoration Initiative is a flagship program created by Testimony Arts, aiming to support at-risk youth in Maryborough, Queensland. By leveraging arts education and vocational training, CISERR provides the opportunity to young people disengaged from mainstream education to become resilient through exposing them to practical, emotional and social skills.
Objectives
The primary objectives of CISERR are to foster community belonging, create safe spaces for social inclusion, and promote future-oriented thinking among young males aged 15-18 at increased risk of welfare dependence, and/or youth justice involvement. CISERR designs and delivers re-engagement strategies to achieve active learning and pro-civic participation.
Methods
CISERR operates a 10-week program, delivering over 450 hours of creative skills development including hands-on workshops, integrated literacy and numeracy support, repair and restoration skills, circular economy practices, social enterprise development, and vocational training. The program employs a Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation (MEL) framework to assess its social impact.
At the epicentre of CISERR’s methodological framework is place-based partnerships. The initiative operates in collaboration with young people, artists, craftspeople, First Nations, cultural, community and sector leaders, universities, training providers and tradespeople, schools, youth justice, all levels of government, service organisations, families and the local community.
