Helping more young people into work

8 March 2017: The Australian Government has today announced the organisations that were successful in their applications to deliver the second round of Empowering YOUth Initiatives and Headspace, with centre in Mackay and Townsville on the list.This initiative seeks to empower young people who are disengaged from the workforce or school and who face complex issues that affect their future.In Mackay, Headspace is one of six successful organisations selected from the second round to offer services in Queensland, and in Townsville, Queensland Youth Services will offer services to support young people in the area.I was pleased to lead the charge to deliver a Headspace youth mental health service for Mackay in 2013 and today’s announcement builds on what Headspace is able to offer our young people.Through the Headspace Digital Industry Mentor Service participants will be able to link online with experienced industry mentors in order to develop their confidence, networking and soft skills. Mentors will increase employment opportunities for participants through existing networks and help them set goals that align with their skills and work-readiness. In Townsville, the Recycle Your Dreams initiative run by Queensland Youth Services establishes a social enterprise that recycles goods for re-sale. Young participants will engage in daily operations to develop their entrepreneurial skills, including business planning, product design, product making and product distribution. Participants will also receive a Cert II Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways as part of completing the program.Community-driven initiatives like these are vital to support our young people on their journeys to employment.Minister for Employment, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said 21 organisations will be offered the opportunity to join 19 existing organisations to deliver new approaches that assist young people overcome barriers to getting employment.“The Government is engaging community and not-for-profit organisations to explore new and innovative approaches to help young people into jobs,” Minister Cash said.“We are especially keen to help facilitate grass roots innovation, as these organisations have stepped up and are willing to try new approaches to help young people.“The Government is supporting these yet-to-be tested ideas because it is worth every effort to tackle youth unemployment.”[box style="1 or 2"]Applicants in Round 2 of Empowering YOUth Initiatives applied for grant funding of up to $5 million to deliver initiatives over two years to young people aged 15 to 24. Each of the 21 successful organisations was selected for their experience and innovative approach.The Department of Employment will partner with the successful organisations to support evaluation of each initiative, informing new policies and programs targeted at young people.“The Coalition has allocated $50 million in Empowering YOUth Initiatives, demonstrating how committed this Government is to assisting some of our most vulnerable young people prepare for the workplace,” Minister Cash said.“Early intervention can mean the difference between a young person taking their first steps into a productive and happy working life or entering a life of welfare dependency.”Empowering YOUth Initiatives is part of the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy announced in the Growing Jobs and Small Business Package in the 2015–16 Budget.For more information on Empowering YOUth Initiatives and other support available for young people under the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy visit: www.employment.gov.au[/box]