Supporting young job seekers into work

A further 19 organisations have today been announced under the second round of the Coalition Government’s Transition to Work service, helping young people move into work or continue their education.

Minister for Employment, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash and the Member for Cowan, Luke Simpkins MP visited McDonald’s restaurant in Wanneroo to announce organisations that will commence delivering Transition to Work services from March 2016.

Minister Cash said the Government is determined to provide young Australians who face difficulties entering the workforce with the assistance they require to ensure they are work-ready and able to obtain gainful employment.

“Young people are the future of our country and we need to ensure we have effective programmes in place so that those at risk of long-term welfare dependency can find and keep a job,” Minister Cash said.

“Evidence shows that the longer a young person remains unemployed after leaving school, the more likely it is that they will fall outside Australia’s workforce and risk becoming long-term unemployed.”

“The best form of welfare is a job and the Coalition is committed to making sure those who are able to work have the necessary work-life skills required to enter the workforce.”

Transition to Work will provide young job seekers with intensive one-on-one support from community-based organisations experienced in working with young people who face greater barriers to enter the workforce.

The Government has committed $322 million over four years to the Transition to Work service to help young people aged 15-21 become work ready or find their way back to education.

Federal Member for Cowan, Luke Simpkins, welcomed the service and the support it will provide to young job seekers in the region.

“It is fantastic that young people in Cowan will now be able to access Transition to Work services through Stirling Skills Training,” Mr Simpkins said.

“This organisation will provide tailored assistance with vocational skills development, purchase training, interview training and career advice as well as support to engage with other community services.”

Building on the service providers already announced in Round 1, the second round of Transition to Work will see services delivered in: 

• Hobart and Southern Tasmania
• Adelaide South
• Mid North South Australia
• Perth North
• South West WA
• Kalgoorlie
• Broome
• Esperance
• South Eastern Melbourne and Peninsula
• Goulburn/Murray
• North Western Melbourne
• Ballarat
• Gold Coast
• Townsville
• Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast
• Wivenhoe
• Sydney South West
• Illawarra South Coast
• North Coast
• Murray Riverina

Providers in additional employment regions will be announced in March, as part of the final round of the Transition to Work programme.

Transition to Work is part of the Australian Government’s Youth Employment Strategy, announced in the 2015-16 Budget and forms part of a range of Government services to help young people get into work, including the:

• Empowering YOUth Initiative to support young people at risk of welfare dependency into work by inviting not-for-profit community organisations to put forward proposals for innovative ideas that offer a different approach to those currently available.
• Engaging Early School Leavers initiative which strengthens requirements for young job seekers aged 15 to 21 years who haven’t completed Year 12 to continue their education or look for work to receive the Youth Allowance.
• Work for the Dole, part of jobactive, which helps people aged 18 and over gain the skills they need to become work-ready and make a contribution to their local community.
• National Work Experience Programme which aims to build confidence and real life work experience for job seekers and prepare them to meet expectations of employers by undertaking unpaid work experience with businesses, not-for-profit and Government organisations for up to 25 hours per week for a maximum of four weeks per placement. 
• Job Commitment Bonus which provides up to $6,500 to encourage Australians aged 18 to 30, who have been on certain income support payments for 12 months or more to find a job, keep it and stay off welfare.

A list of successful organisations under Round 2 can be found below.

For more information on Transition to Work, including a list of successful organisations under Round 1, visit: http://www.employment.gov.au/youth

Attachment - Successful organisations under Round 2