Think
Advance
Skills
Succeed
Paid workforce training • 4-hour instructor-led session • $35 participant stipend • $500 performance awards • Cognitive decision-making practice • Systems navigation & accountability • Cooperative-enterprise pathway • Implementation-ready for transitional housingPaid workforce training • 4-hour instructor-led session • $35 participant stipend • $500 performance awards • Cognitive decision-making practice • Systems navigation & accountability • Cooperative-enterprise pathway • Implementation-ready for transitional housing
The Australia Project
Immersive workforce-training lab using realistic economy simulations for returning citizens.
Training Overview
Participants complete a three-round skills lab that mirrors real-world choices.
Round 1 — Capitalism: individuals compete for roles, income, housing, and status while managing taxes, banking, and purchases. They practice time-on-task, budgeting, and consequence management.
Round 2 — Cooperation: teams share ownership to meet targets—planning, allocating roles, and distributing earnings. They practice collaboration, conflict resolution, and accountability.
Round 3 — Pathway Choice: participants choose a track to deepen—competitive enterprise or cooperative venture—demonstrating judgment under structure. Stipends and performance awards align effort with outcomes
How It Works — Capitalist Econom
Practice real-world decision making: jobs, income, taxes, housing, and status.
Chief of Police
Power role, teaches justice, law, authority—immediately signals real-world skills.
Bank & Payroll
Core financial literacy; they’ll understand income, withholding, and money flow.
Real Estate Agent
Deals with assets, negotiation, property rights—very tangible and powerful.
Faith Leader
Emotional, moral anchor; a space for trust, reflection, and spiritual leadership.
Community Organizer
Activism, voice, representation—builds soft power and shows impact potential.
Attorney / Legal Aid
Navigation of rights, advocacy, conflict resolution—life-transforming
University / Learning Center
Personal growth and self-investment, sets an aspirational tone.
Media / Radio DJ
Fun, expressive, tech-savvy; visibility + messaging = power
Café / Country Club (Karaoke Host)
Builds levity, etiquette, emotional bonding, joy of living
A three-step pathway that turns reentry talent into member-owned businesses.
Shared Ownership
Real Power
Trauma-informed, faith-rooted, and evidence-based—building income, dignity, and community wealth.
Step 1 — Paid Training & Lunch (Intro Session)
- What: 90-minute, hands-on demo of the co-op model
- Who: Returning citizens & community members (hosted at a library or partner site)
- Value: $35 stipend + lunch for attending
- Outcome: Understand how co-ops work; sign up for next steps
Step 2 — Free Online Training (Certification)
In partnership with the Cooperative Development Institute (CDI).
- Format: 9-month series, 2 hours/month, English & Spanish, recordings provided
- Learn: Co-op governance, finance, legal basics, marketing, growth
- Support: Cohort community + mentors; certificate of completion
- Outcome: Skills and confidence to build and lead a co-op
Step 3 — Co-op Launch Retreat (Local)
- Format: 1–2 day retreat in your city to organize and launch
- Do: Form member-owners, elect roles, draft bylaws, outline budgets & first sales
- We Provide: Toolkits, coaching, and post-launch support
- Outcome: A real, member-owned business—owned together
Decide as a Democracy
One-member-one-vote sets goals, budgets, and standards. Transparent books and rotating leadership build trust and real accountability.
Concept
