Jobs Victoria is looking to help build a better future for young people leaving the youth justice system by launching a new pilot hiring initiative.
Welcoming the pilot, Minister for Employment, Jaala Pulford said it would see Jobs Victoria mentors work with 50-100 young people aged 17 to 21 to help them find a job and keep it, “providing continuous support for the first six-months a young person is in a job.”
“At-risk youth involved in the pilot will develop a career plan, receive job readiness training and learn critical skills to improve long-term employment prospects as they prepare to re-enter the community,” Ms Pulford said.
“The pilot hiring initiative is designed to provide real employment opportunities for young people at the greatest risk of being incarcerated,” she said.
“Finding a job is an important and positive step for young people leaving custody and being employed can significantly reduce the possibility of recidivism.”
Ms Pulford said the pilot would run at Parkville College, a Government specialist school that educates youths who were, or had been, in custody.
“Young people leaving the justice system will have someone in their own community that they know and trust to support them to find and keep a job,” the Minister said.
“These young people have their whole lives ahead of them and a well-supported transition to employment will benefit them and their employers alike.”
