Helping disadvantaged youth ‘get back in the game’

A NSW government program aiming to connect disadvantaged youth with education, training and employment is set to be expanded to the Central Coast.

Minister for Education and Early Learning, Sarah Mitchell, said the Get Back in the Game program had already helped thousands of young people in regional NSW since 2016 and would now be expanded to the Central Coast, as well as western Sydney, southwestern Sydney the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and the Hunter.

“More than 7,000 young people have discovered areas of interest, developed career plans, and either engaged in work or training or headed back to complete their secondary school education, since the program started in 2016,” Mitchell said.

“This expansion will further the program’s reach and help more young people finish school, access training and get a job.”

Seven community-based youth support organisations will deliver specialist support services to young people aged 15-19 through the program.

Get Back in the Game will focus on young people who are still at school but struggling to engage with education, as well as those who have left school but are finding it difficult to make effective transitions into training or employment.

Minister for Skills and Training, Alister Henskens, said the program helped young people gain employability skills, identify career pathways and establish valuable connections with employers and industry.

“We want to ensure every young person in NSW has an opportunity to reach their potential and find a job they want,” Mr Henskens said.

“When young people disengage from education, this program provides a helping hand to reconnect them with positive training and employment opportunities.

‘The program is a win-win – it will support vulnerable young people while benefiting employers across a range of industries who are crying out for skilled workers.”

Participants must be aged 15-19, enrolled in, and referred by, one of the participating Educational Pathways Program schools, and not be a current participant in any Commonwealth, NSW or other program or service supporting youth transitions to work or study.

Source:
Media release, May 19
NSW Government