Making young people Smart, Skilled and Hired

It’s estimated more than 50,000 young people across Australia are in long-term unemployment.

In other words, they’ve been out of work for a year or more.

At yourtown, we believe every young person has the right to a brighter future, which is why we’re so excited about this latest announcement…

yourtown is joining forces with the NSW Government and industry to tackle youth unemployment in Sydney’s West

As part of the new ‘Smart, Skilled and Hired’ jobs program, yourtown will help long-term unemployed or under-employed 15-24 year-olds who are currently not receiving Government payments.

From connecting with training, mentoring, work experience and other intensive support, the program aims to give them the ‘smarts’ and the ‘skills’ to get ‘hired’.

“yourtown has been running youth employment and works skills programs in Western Sydney for more than 10 years and we know the challenges young people can face,” yourtown Head of Client Services Brendan Bourke said of the initiative.

“Long-term unemployment can impact a young person’s self-esteem, confidence, mental and physical health, and quality of life.

“This new program will not only fill the employment services gap for local industry but give vulnerable young people outside the welfare system the opportunity to get much needed help to get a job and find their place in the community.”

yourtown’s model of support is based on evidence of ‘what works’

Last year alone, yourtown’s youth initiatives helped more than 20,000 young people gain vital skills to get a job across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

Based on this experience, the ‘Smart, Skilled and Hired’ program will see a case manager and dedicated employment consultant provide support and activities tailored to each young person’s needs and interests.

This could include working through issues like homelessness, alcohol or drug dependency, mental health challenges, legal concerns, domestic and family violence, poor family relationships, cultural displacement and cognitive learning disabilities.

Operating in Blacktown, St Mary’s and Campbelltown in Western Sydney, the program will commence in late July 2017 and run until 30 June 2020. It is estimated more than 800 young people will benefit from the program.

 

About yourtown...

We’re a community funded organisation that’s taking on the challenges young people face including Mental Health, Unemployment, Family and Domestic Violence.  Get the latest news and updates on our Facebook page.