By Molly Magennis
Two employment services providers are bringing their successful youth employment program to Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Not-for-profit organisation CoAct, in collaboration with Youth Projects, have been awarded the rights to bring the Australian Government’s Transition to Work (TtW) program to the west, which aims to help 15 to 24 year olds find employment by giving them access to accredited vocational training and education.
CoAct chief executive Matt Little said the program is customer-centred and flexible, and achieves high levels of sustained impact for the participants.
“Specialist programs like TtW are at the heart of the recent increase in youth employment, helping highly disadvantaged young people to develop practical skills to get a job or connect with education or training,” he said.
“Young people, and young people in Melbourne particularly, have been some of the hardest hit by the pandemic. We’ve been there to help them navigate the challenges it’s brought and will continue to do so.”
The program will also have a strong focus on delivering mental health support, with Youth Projects providing help for alcohol, drugs and other issues to ensure young jobseekers receive the most effective support based on their needs.
“This is no ordinary jobs program. Our new approach has embedded mental health support to help young people recover from the pandemic and build resilience for their future.” said Youth Projects chief executive Ben Vasiliou.
“We’ll meet young people where they’re at and provide the opportunities they desperately need right now.”
Over the past six years, the TtW program has helped 9,500 young people through the program across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
As part of the 2021–22 Federal Budget, the government confirmed a further $481.2 million would be invested into the program over the next four years starting from 2022.
CoAct and Youth Projects will start delivering TtW program in Melbourne’s west from July 1 2022.
Details: www.coact.org.au
