[Sub ID 4662] Holistic training and coaching with continued post-placement assistance (Cynthia Cherian)
Submission ID: 4662
Contact name:Â Cynthia Cherian
State: NSW
Contact email: ccher84@yahoo.com.au
About the submitter:
I am interested in addressing social and income inequality and increasing access to employment opportunities for young students.
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?
Youth unemployment is high in certain geographical locations and in lower socio-economic households, as evidenced by the number of young people on the Newstart Allowance (DSS demographics September 2016).
Young students at risk of reliance on benefits long term often:
1. do not have very good role models at home
2. are lacking in knowledge and self-confidence and this, in turn, effects motivation and effort put forth towards obtaining a job
Therefore, young students need education, support from a professional career coach and peer support in order to ensure that they finish their studies, obtain employment, thrive at work and are not reliant on benefits long term. The career coach and peer support services can be provided face-to-face and/or through electronic means.
What is your idea?
An effective and sustainable program is needed to ensure that such students are not reliant on benefits long term and that they complete their studies, obtain employment and stay gainfully employed.
One way to prevent long term reliance on benefits is to:
1. provide specific training (including practical work), on how to obtain a job, manage a career, interviewing skills, CV writing, managing finances, gaining a basic understanding of economics and financial products and soft skills such as communication, leadership, team work, etc.
2. provide career coaching (face-to-face and/or through electronic means)
3. provide peer support (face-to-face and/or through electronic means
The career coaching and peer support should continue even after the young student has obtained employment so that they thrive at work and should end after a few years of working full-time.
Such a program should increase these students’ workforce participation rates and make them independent and self-sufficient in the long term. Those students who have benefited should also be in a position to help the next generation.