[Sub ID 4836] Youth Advantage Model (Business Education Network)

Submission ID: 4836
Organisation name: Business Education Network
Contact name: Mrs Samantha King
State: NSW
Contact number: 0299863339

Which priority group of the Try, Test and Learn Fund does your idea support?
Young students at risk of long-term unemployment

What need or issue are you trying to address?
In our experience, there is a current gap in early intervention of youth unemployment based on two key levels. Firstly between state and federally funded initiatives and secondly between portfolios – education vs industry. In our experience and on behalf of a network of experienced NGO providers, we recognise that early intervention and exposure to career development and work readiness allows a young person to adequately prepare for the transition from secondary school into adult life. UK based studies have shown that through a minimum of 4 or more quality career interactions, a young persons ability to successfully transition is increased five fold (Dr. Anthony Mann).

Responses to this issue needs to have a strong governance structure yet flexibility at a local level so as to address local skill demands and also to work collaboratively with industry to skill for the future. Our network has experience in connecting young people aged 16-17 to industry placements where we see 25-28% of young people being offered incidental employment based on this placement. This opportunity would not have ordinarily have occured if the young person was not given the exposure to industry. Our networks have delivered programmes both on behalf of the NSW State and Federal Gov. and it is through this, we have observed many positive outcomes which are not ordinarily measured.

What is your idea?
The Youth Advantage model calls for four program streams that simultaneously address employer demand and education supply issues:

1. Youth Engagement and Employment Alliance
This alliance acts the umbrella approach to regional footprints allowing for co-contribution from industry as well as from education in order to prepare young people for the world of work. At this level, partnerships and strategic goals are formed with local outcomes. Local insight – Local Engagement – Local Strength

2. Regional Youth Job Drive
This element sees the canvassing of local business in establishing a need to employ or an interest to employ a young person. our historic data as a network suggests that between 20-30% of young people who undertake an industry placement as part of their course are offered employment. This employment opportunity is usually incidental and as a result of a practical assessment on value of the young person in the particular workplace.

3. Job Ready program
This element of the programme supports and compliments the internal structures within a school for work readiness however is able to leverage from local knowledge and industry input to allow for more targeted results. It is not based on educational KPI’s of retention but rather looks at the foundational skills which support a young person to become employed. This would be delivered in various ways that would be tailored on a regional needs basis. Included in this is “Work Inspirations” a UK based way of looking at work place learning.

4. Job Boot Camp
This element allows target young people at risk of disengaging to undertake a “bootcamp” programme of support as well as case managed support into the workforce. Ideally these candidates are on track to transition into employment and will also be supported into the workplace ensuring sustained outcomes.