610 SCHOOL BASED TRAINEESHIPS TO INCREASE SCHOOL RETENTION AND TRANSITION TO JOBS

Sixteen organisations from across Australia have been selected to deliver the Indigenous Youth Careers Pathways Program to 610 Indigenous students in Years 11 and 12.

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib today announced the organisations that would support, mentor and assist Indigenous high school students complete a school-based traineeship.

“The program also provides young Indigenous people with personal mentoring and case management to help them handle issues they may face when moving from school to work or into further education,” Senator Arbib said.

“In addition to these 610 new traineeships, more than 1000 existing school-based trainees who are currently funded through the Indigenous Employment Program are transitioning to the Indigenous Youth Careers Pathways Program.

“Students who are currently undertaking a school-based traineeship will continue to receive support and in many cases will receive enhanced services through the provision of personal mentoring and case management.

“This enhanced service will give the school-based trainees the best chance of completing their traineeship and completing Year 12.”

Senator Arbib said the Australian Government had committed $50.7 million over four years to deliver 6,400 school-based traineeships for Indigenous students. 

“Indigenous employment is not a short term issue and over the next four years the Australian Government has committed almost $650 million to the Indigenous Employment Program,” Senator Arbib said.

“This is part of the Australia Government’s target to create more than 100 000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.”

A list of organisations chosen to lead the Indigenous Youth Career Pathways Program, and a list of the 20 organisations transitioning their school based traineeships to the Program can be found below.

The new Indigenous Youth Careers Pathways Program Providers will operate in 23 Regions across Australia, they include: 

Twenty organisations will transition their school based traineeships to the Indigenous Youth Career Employment Program in the following States: