Helping Young People

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IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS (PRIOR TO THE COVID LOCKDOWN!) I MET WITH SOME INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AS LEADERS IN THEIR LOCAL SCHOOLS.

I’ve also recently met with some amazing teenagers at the Lions Youth of the Year events and two young ladies who earned the Queens Scout award.

I always enjoy listening to young people talk about the jobs and careers they would like to have in the future and it’s my job to help make that happen.

Yes, leaving school and entering the “real world” is much more difficult now than it was when I left school after Year 10 and walked straight into a job.

And for young people on Bribie Island, getting to a workplace or university etc that is not on the island can be an extra challenge when you factor in travel.

Youth employment has been hit hard by COVID-19, as they are over-represented in industries that have been heavily affected by health restrictions, such as Accommodation and Food Services and Arts and Recreation.

But there’s some good news too. Right now, there are literally hundreds of jobs available on farms in the area – including at My Berries and Sun Ray.

Contact them directly or contact Harvest Trail in Caboolture for info: 0437 211 731 or email: [email protected]

I have also spoken to quite a few local employers who say they have positions available but can’t fill them! There is demand out there for all sorts of different skills across many different industries.

Federal Government Initiatives like the JobMaker Hiring Credit, the Boosting Apprenticeships Commencements wage subsidy, and the JobTrainer Fund are all helping get young people into jobs. The JobTrainer Fund provides for around 300,000 free or low-fee training places to help school leavers and young job seekers gain the skills they need to get a job.

Participants can choose from a range of accredited diplomas, certificates and short courses for “in-demand” industries like health, aged and disability care, IT and trades.

Visit myskills.gov.au/jobtrainer for details

The Jobmaker Hiring Credit provides an incentive for businesses to employ young job seekers aged 16–35 years; and we are encouraging employers to take on more apprentices and trainees through the Boosting Apprenticeships Commencement wage subsidy.

These programs are working. The national unemployment rate in February dropped to 5.8 per cent – and more than 40 per cent of those 88,700 new jobs went to young people. Youth unemployment in Queensland is still unacceptably high, at 15.1 per cent, but it too is trending down.

One of the reasons for this high figure is because younger people tend to move between joblessness, training and working, and are more likely to enter temporary and insecure employment.

“But if there are any young people who are really desperate to find work, but can’t, please contact my office and they may be able to help.” Email [email protected] or phone 5432 3177. – Terry Young, Federal Member for Longman.