This expert meeting of the ESSSA initiative will provide a unique opportunity to share international experience in addressing the issue of skills mismatch as a way to contribute to more inclusive growth and good quality job creation across Southeast Asian countries.

1. Tackling Youth Unemployment in
www.employment.gov.au
Australia
Penny Ireland, Department of Employment

2. High Youth Unemployment Rates
August 2014
Teenage Full-Time (15-19 Years) 27.1 per cent
Youth (15-24 Years) 13.4 per cent
National 6.1 per cent

3. Employment Services
• Job Services Australia
• Disability Employment Services
• Remote Jobs and Communities Programme

4. Requiring Young People to
Earn or Learn
• under 30 years of age
• full capacity to work
• tighter eligibility for income support
• access to employment services
– to support their job search efforts, gain work-related skills
and get a job

5. The Job Commitment Bonus for
Young Australians
Eligibility
• 18 to 30 years of age
• unemployed for 12 months or more
• in receipt of an applicable income support payment
$2500 payment if they get a job
• must remain off income support for a continuous 12 month period
additional $4000 payment
• if they stay off income support for a continuous 24 month period

6. Relocation Assistance to Take Up A Job
Long-term unemployed job seekers, including young people, who move to take-up
a job will be eligible for:
• up to $6000 to relocate to a regional area
• up to $3000 to move to a metropolitan area
• an extra $3000 for families with dependent children
New Enterprise Incentive Scheme
Accredited small business training, business mentoring and income support to
help job seekers turn a business idea into a viable business
Youth wage subsidy

7. Work For the Dole
Job seekers benefit from Work for the Dole activities including
• developing on-the-job skills
• demonstrating abilities to potential employers
• making new work contacts
Placements are with not-for-profit organisations, or local, state,
territory or Australian Government agencies (and do not displace paid
workers)

8. Green Army
Environment-based work experience for
• up to 15,000 young people
• 17 to 24 years of age
Young job seekers can join Green Army as an
alternative to Work for the Dole.

9. Generation Success
Industry-driven, led by Woolworths and News Corp, designed
to:
• increase awareness of youth unemployment issues across the country,
• encourage employers to consider the employment of young people
and
• support young job seekers and young people already in the workplace
The Department of Employment’s contribution is a website
• a central portal for all Generation Success news and information
• practical tips and advice to support employers, young people and
parents and educators
» www.employment.gov.au/generationsuccess

10. Targeting Training to Young People
In 2015 the Australia Government will trial two new approaches:
• Training for Employment Scholarships
— for new employees, 18 to 24 years of age
— small-to-medium size employers in regional areas will be able to have the cost of up to
26 weeks of job-specific training for new employees reimbursed
• Youth Employment Pathways Training
— young people, 15 to 18 years of age, not participating in school, education or
employment and with non-vocational barriers
— Community service organisations, in regional areas, will identify individual participants
and their specific training needs. They will then get them the training they need and
provide them with case management support to complete their training.
— http://www.vetreform.industry.gov.au/progress-date

11. Australian Apprenticeships Support
Network
From 1 July 2015, all individuals interested in an apprenticeship will
have access to entry-level screening for suitable matching to an
apprenticeship or further training
Employers and their apprentices will be supported through
• individual case management
• mentoring services for those at-risk of not completing the apprenticeship
arrangement
• http://vetreform.industry.gov.au/news/training-boost-regional-australia-and-apprentices

12. Other initiatives
• National youth participation requirement
• National entitlement to a government subsidised
training place
• Skills for Education and Employment Programme
• Australian Apprenticeships Incentive Programme
• School based apprenticeships
• Trade support loans
• Living away from home allowance

13. Other initiatives
• Reconnect
• Headspace
• MindMatters
• Fair Work Ombudsman’s guides and videos
• MoneySmart – under 25s