Youth Jobs Strategy public consultation now open

Felix Ellis, Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth
Roger Jaensch, Minister for Education, Children and Youth

The Rockliff Liberal Government has today released the Youth Jobs Strategy Discussion Paper for public consultation.

Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth, Felix Ellis, said the public consultation process would provide an important opportunity for all Tasmanians to provide feedback on how we can better support young Tasmanians into work.

“We want more Tasmanians to have the opportunity to get a job,” Mr Ellis said.

“So we’re asking Tasmanians to share their suggestions and experiences with us, so we can better understand what support young people need to get into work, as well as further education or training.

“This discussion paper provides context for our proposed approach and outlines the key themes and potential solutions that have emerged through recent stakeholder feedback.

“For many young people, navigating a pathway to work or training can be overwhelming, particularly for those with complex barriers who may need extra support.

The Youth Jobs Strategy discussion paper outlines the key principals that will guide the strategy, including the opportunity for young people to play a key role in boosting productivity, supporting the value of Vocational Education and Training, and the importance of place-based opportunities in local communities, especially for rural and regional areas.

“Tasmanians deserve the same opportunities no matter which part of the state they live, and our Youth Jobs Strategy will help us to achieve this,” Minister Ellis concluded.

Minister for Education, Children and Youth, Roger Jaensch, said the Youth Jobs Strategy would also aim to improve the current system.

“We are looking at integration and coordination of services and support to provide young people with a system that is connected and seamless, with multiple access points and pathways to fit individual experiences and need,” Mr Jaensch said.

“Like our approach to the Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy, we recognise that the challenges young people face in navigating the transition from school to work cannot be resolved in isolation.

“We are asking the Tasmanian community to reflect on the issues raised in the discussion paper and tell us what they think will make a real difference for young Tasmanians trying to enter the workforce.

“Through collaboration with the Youth Network of Tasmania we will ensure that the voice of young Tasmanians from all backgrounds and regions are part of the co-design process and ongoing implementation of the strategy,” he said.

Members of the public are invited to directly respond to the key issues raised in the paper or make comment on any other issues or potential solutions they feel may be relevant to the development and implementation of the strategy.

The public consultation process is now open for submissions and will close on 27 October 2023.

To read the discussion paper and provide feedback, or to find out more about the Youth Jobs Strategy, visit youthjobsstrategy.tas.gov.au.

There are 54,000 more Tasmanians in work now compared with March 2014.