A fit-for-purpose national youth employment service: submission to the Future Employment Services Consultation

This submission to the Future Employment Services Consultation is made by the Brotherhood of St Laurence on behalf of the Transition to Work Community of Practice (TtW CoP). The TtW CoP is a network of providers working with and for young unemployed people. Collectively, we represent almost one quarter of all TtW providers across Australia. Our submission focuses on what an effective employment services system looks like for young people (aged 15-25) who are unemployed. Our response is drawn from national and international literature, and our collective experience in developing and delivering ... Show more

This submission to the Future Employment Services Consultation is made by the Brotherhood of St Laurence on behalf of the Transition to Work Community of Practice (TtW CoP). The TtW CoP is a network of providers working with and for young unemployed people. Collectively, we represent almost one quarter of all TtW providers across Australia. Our submission focuses on what an effective employment services system looks like for young people (aged 15-25) who are unemployed. Our response is drawn from national and international literature, and our collective experience in developing and delivering services which connect young people to education, training and employment, and build their capabilities for achieving sustainable livelihoods.

The submission argues that, in the context of a changing labour market, employment services must provide young people with: (1) a pathway into decent work (i.e. work that is secure and pays a living wage); and (2) capabilities that set them up for medium and long-term economic security. An employment service capable of achieving this purpose is: (a) part of a broader National Employment Strategy; (b) youth specific; (c) open to all young job seekers; (d) evidence informed; (e) focused on practice; (f) framed around agency (activation) and mutual accountability (incentives) for the job seeker; (g) collaborative, working with: young people to co-design their pathway; the community to integrate with other services and employers; and other providers to share what works; and (h) cost effective - delivers results at improved value to the tax payer by optimising the productivity of providers, and by recognising the most effective type and point of intervention in a young person's journey. A fit-for-purpose commissioning approach is essential if the youth employment service is to achieve its purpose and recommendations are made on how such an approach would look.

Edited excerpts from publication. Show less