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Pathways to youth employment

BSL has decades of experience in supporting young people facing barriers that affect their ability to transition from school to work.

Pathways to youth employment
Building Youth Pathways program participants who have recently begun employment with Concept Caravans

Our Building Youth Pathways program aims to provide young people experiencing disadvantage aged between 18 and 25 years with sustainable job opportunities.

Supported by the Victorian Government through Jobs Victoria, the program recruits, trains, and places jobseekers from priority groups into jobs in the Horticulture, Transport and Logistics, Manufacturing, and Health Care and Social Assistance sectors across Hume, Frankston, and the Mornington Peninsula. The program adopts an Advantaged Thinking approach which involves finding, developing, and investing in the aspirations and skills of young people, and collaborating with community employers to promote the benefits of employing local young people.

The work draws upon evidence from our National Youth Employment Body which brings together leaders from the key sectors needed to address youth unemployment - industry, education and training, employers - and industry to create work opportunities that are suitable for young jobseekers and meet industry and employer needs. Demand-side interventions also include initiatives to develop policies that foster inclusive employment.   

Employer participation is essential to the success of this initiative, and businesses get involved by sharing their industry knowledge and insights, taking part in workshops, and offering work experience, traineeships, employment, and networking opportunities.   

An example of this program in action is the experience of participants Mohamed and Ashley, who were recently employed by local caravan manufacturers Concept Caravans. The program was delivered two days a week over two weeks and provided them with the skills and knowledge to fast track them into a career. It included:

  • Accredited training
  • Practical training onsite
  • Pre-employment support
  • Free work wear
  • Ongoing support and upskilling once employed.

Overall, the Building Youth Pathways program provided by BSL is a comprehensive and evidence-based program that aims to provide young people with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to transition from school into work and succeed in the workforce.