The Morrison Government will provide more support through a new program to help disadvantaged and disengaged young Australians overcome obstacles to find work as part of our plan for a stronger future.
As part of the 2022‑23 Budget, the Government will invest $46.8 million over four years to deliver ReBoot, a new pre‑employment program to help an estimated 5,000 young people aged 15 to 24.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said with an unemployment rate at 4 per cent we have an historic opportunity to get more people off welfare and into work.
“We want to ensure young Australians have access to the opportunities they need to thrive, but we know for some there can be some significant barriers, especially since the COVID‑19 pandemic,” the Treasurer said.
“Good physical and mental health, exercise and social connectedness are critical to maintaining wellbeing, resilience and the positive attitude necessary to overcome the challenge of long‑term unemployment.
“With job advertisements at their highest level since August 2008 and more people getting into work, the Government is delivering on our plan for a stronger future.
“The Government’s economic plan is working and this announcement builds on our commitment to deliver generational skilling for our young Australians, not generational scarring.”
Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business and Acting Minister for Education and Youth, Stuart Robert, said having a positive attitude to work and demonstrated reliability are the highest priority for employers when deciding whether to offer a young person an entry‑level job and in order for young people to demonstrate these behaviours they must be self‑motivated, have a sense of purpose and a sense of control over their lives.
“Young people who do not exhibit characteristics such as a positive attitude and reliability are generally disengaged and not actively participating in employment or training pathways, however the Morrison Government’s ReBoot will directly target this group,” Minister Robert said.
“ReBoot will engage with disadvantaged and disengaged young Australians in initiatives of up to 12 weeks, to build their capability and aspirations.
“It will provide tailored, community‑focused early interventions, which may range from hands‑on learning and mentoring to work experience through engagement with industry, thereby supporting those most vulnerable to long‑term unemployment.
“Participants will then be in a better position to engage with existing youth employment programs to continue their pathway to training or employment.”
Assistant Minister for Youth and Employment Services, Luke Howarth, said ReBoot will complement the Morrison Government’s existing youth employment measures.
‘The Morrison Government’s Youth Jobs PaTH program, worth, $445 million over five years, has also provided more than 139,000 young people with employability skills training, internships and job placements since its inception in 2017,’ Assistant Minister Howarth said.
A competitive procurement process will select expert not‑for‑profit organisations to deliver ReBoot initiatives, with these expected to be rolled out in early 2023.