Youth Employment Report Points to Effective Programs

Funding and advocacy Not for Profit, Social Ventures Australia, has released a report identifying the underpinning principles behind successful youth employment programs.

The Fundamental principles for youth employment report was the product of a national and international research project supported by the Collier Charitable Fund.

The report identified 10 fundamental principles which are essential to effectively support young people into employment.

They included “personal” factors – the capabilities and experiences a young person needs to gain and retain meaningful employment – and “community infrastructure” factors – the ecosystem components required to support successful employment transitions.

The personal principles included identity and self-esteem, building aspirations, literacy and numeracy, and employability and careers management skills.

Community infrastructure principles included the importance of partnerships between business and other community organisations, early intervention for young-people at risk, personalised support, alternative pathways to employment and providing adequate financial support to jobseekers.

The Principles Framework was designed to provide a guide to organisations looking to support young people into sustainable employment. A series of case studies illustrate the effective application of each of the principles.

“Extended periods outside of the workforce can trigger a cycle of entrenched unemployment and disadvantage over a lifetime,” SVA Director Andrea De Almeida said.

“To ensure at-risk young people are not stuck in this cycle it is crucial to provide them with tailored support that takes into account the range of barriers they may be experiencing.

“We hope that this research will enable better design and investment in youth employment programs, and provide a more transparent and consistent measurement and evaluation standard for existing programs.”

SVA is a Not for Profit organisation established in 2002 by The Benevolent Society, The Smith Family, WorkVentures and AMP Foundation. It offers funding, investment and advice to increase their social impact.

The full Fundamental principles for youth employment report is available here.