Whether you have just left school or you’re looking for your first full-time job, as a young person you need support that matches up with where you are in life.
Job Services Australia will provide tailored help to suit your needs.
Job Services Australia is the Australian Government’s national approach to employment services that provides tailored help to suit your needs. Your local Job Services Australia provider can:
- help you to find a job
- give you advice on the basics like writing a résumé, how to look for a job, and what jobs are available in your local area
- work with you to build your own Employment Pathway Plan
- provide you with access to training or other help to build your skills or overcome personal barriers to employment.
Support for young people
If you are aged 15 years or over, and not in full-time study or full-time work, you should be fully eligible to access services from Job Services Australia. You can register via Centrelink.
If you are aged between 15 and 20 years and have significant issues preventing you from getting a job, you may be able to register directly with a Job Services Australia provider to get immediate help. Some full-time students can also access this immediate help.
Help getting started
Your Job Services Australia provider will be your main point of contact. They will work with you one-on-one to give you advice and help develop your skills.
The first thing your Job Services Australia provider will do is help you with some of the basics—like help writing a résumé, advice on the best job search methods, help with interviews and advice on the kinds of employment opportunities that are in your local area.
A plan that’s built around you
Your Job Services Australia provider will work with you to develop your own tailored Employment Pathway Plan to set out the services and training you need to help you find and keep a job. Depending on your situation, this might include things like further education if you need it, or work experience.
If you are just starting out, you might need certain licences, safety equipment, training or other goods and services to help you secure a job. Your Job Services Australia provider will have access to an Employment Pathway Fund which may be used to purchase a wide range of assistance that may help you get and keep a job, based on your individual needs.
Extra support when you need it
Under Job Services Australia, the more help you need, the more help you’ll get. Your Job Services Australia provider will work closely with you to make sure that you get the right level of support. There are also a number of specialised services across Australia to help people with specific needs, including young people.
Developing your skills for the future
Job Services Australia has a strong focus on making sure you get the training and skills development opportunities you need. For example:
you can participate in National Green Jobs Corps a green skills and climate change training and work experience program. National Green Jobs Corp is designed for 17 -24 year olds.
Other initiatives for young people
For many young people it’s not as simple as just walking into a training course or a job. So, if you are aged between 19 and 24 years you will also have increased access to pre-vocational and support places through the Australian Apprenticeships Access Program.
Australian Apprenticeships - many young Australians get their start through Australian Apprenticeships, which can give you the option of combining training and employment— so you’re earning while you’re learning.
The Compact with Young Australians aims to promote skills acquisition and ensure young people are learning or earning. It includes an entitlement to an education or training place for 15 to 24 year olds.
Transition to Independent Living Allowance - (TILA) provides one-off financial support for people leaving formal state-based care or informal care, such as out-of-home care and Indigenous kinship care arrangements. TILA helps with the costs associated with moving from care to independent living, such as moving, education and transport costs.
More information
Your local Job Services Australia provider will be able to provide more information on how Job Services Australia can help you. If you are a job seeker interested in receiving help from Job Services Australia in most instances you should visit your local Centrelink office to register to receive assistance.
How to register for assistance
Find your local Job Services Australia provider
More information for young people is also available online, including:
- Youth.gov.au - the central hub of Government information for young people.
- MyFuture - an online career exploration and information service to help you make informed career decisions
- JobGuide - an in-depth look at a range of occupations and how to get the training or education you need for them. There’s also information about how to choose an occupation based on your skills and abilities
- Australian JobSearch - the Government’s free online jobs board which provides a single point of access for job seekers where you can post your résumé and search for jobs.