Assistant
Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, has
launched two new pilot programmes to help deliver skilled young employees to
businesses in regions where unemployment is high.
The $44
million pilot programmes – Training for Employment Scholarships and Youth
Employment Pathways – are part of the youth stream of the Industry Skills Fund.
“These
initiatives will help not only businesses and young people, but also their
towns and communities, particularly at a time of high youth unemployment,”
Senator Birmingham said.
Under
Training for Employment Scholarships, businesses with less than 200 staff who
hire an unemployed person aged 18 to 24 after 1 March 2015 may be eligible for
funding of up to $7500 to help the employee gain new skills or qualifications.
Youth
Employment Pathways offers funding to support community service organisations
assist disengaged youth, aged 15 to 18, to get back into school, start
vocational education and training (VET) or move into the workforce.
“These
initiatives are available in selected regions where youth unemployment is high
and they could potentially be expanded nationally,” Senator Birmingham said.
Businesses
and community service organisations in the selected regions have until 29
February 2016 to apply through the online application form.
The
Industry Skills Fund was launched on 1 January 2015 and forms a key part of the
Australian Government’s ambitious VET reform that will lift the
quality of training providers and courses to improve the employment prospects
of students and the competitiveness of Australia’s economy.
For more
information, or to apply, visit the business.gov.au
website or call 13 28 46.
