Background

An IYMP pilot phase operated from 2006 until June 2009. New IYMP arrangements came into operation for the period between June 2009 and December 2012; the end of the current Indigenous Education funding period. IYMP is an on-going program.

A key principle of IYMP is that of providing choice to Indigenous young people and their families. For many Indigenous people, especially those in remote areas, life chances can be severely limited by a lack of opportunity, both in education and employment.

IYMP seeks to redress that ‘opportunity gap’, at least in part, by providing access to a full range of post secondary education and training options that smaller communities may not be able to provide.

The Program assists people to improve their changes of getting that job, with an emphasis on obtaining a Certificate III or above qualifications to give graduates the best possible chance of obtaining sustainable employment and the benefits that flow from this. IYMP Participants are encouraged to undertake practical pathways to qualifications including those offered through Australian Apprenticeships and, where appropriate those that commence with VET and articulate to university.

IYMP provides accommodation, mentoring and other practical support to help young Indigenous people who commence, to complete their qualifications.

IYMP helps build literacy, numeracy, financial literacy, independent living and other life skills of young Indigenous people.

The Program is also helping remote community development by providing opportunities for those communities’ young people to train for and return to jobs in their own communities (if they so desire), that have often historically been taken up in Indigenous communities by non-Indigenous people.

IYMP Host Locations

On 1 July 2009, the IYMP expanded operations to 16 Host Locations:

Objectives

The IYMP contributes to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in post-secondary education, training and employment outcomes. Particular objectives include:

• providing greater access to quality education and training options for Indigenous people, particularly, but not exclusively, for those from remote areas
• engaging up to 1,500 Indigenous young people in Apprenticeships, vocational education and training and university courses between 2006 and 2012
• assisting as many of these young people as possible to achieve a Certificate III, or above, qualification during their participation in IYMP
• delivering at least 324 accommodation places in participating IYMP Host Locations from 1 July 2009, and
• providing Indigenous people with qualifications for sustainable employment, including employment in remote communities.

Eligibility

To receive assistance under this program, a young Indigenous person must generally be:

• aged between 16 and 24 years upon commencement of IYMP; and
• supported by her or his family/community as needing to relocate from their community in order to access nationally accredited education and training.

Responsibilities

IYMP Providers:

• select and prepare applicants for relocation to the relevant host location
• assist the young person to transition into the host location and then on completion to transition back to their community or elsewhere
• develop IYMP training plans and co-ordinate the higher education, vocational education and training and apprenticeship opportunities for each participant
• provide case management, mentoring and ongoing support to maximise the chances of participants achieving the qualifications they seek
• provide safe and supported accommodation that allows Participants to focus on attaining their qualifications
• undertake all project management functions, and
• facilitate partnerships for participants in the relevant host location with mentors for a purpose and other key stakeholders.

IYMP Participants:

• adhere to study requirements
• interact positively with other participants, mentors, coaches and others involved in the program
• contribute towards payment of food and accommodation
• adhere to accommodation rules and help in the maintenance of accommodation
• abide by dispute and conflict resolution processes
• maintain personal documentation, and
• adhere to drug and alcohol and IT usage policies.

The Program is also helping remote community development by providing opportunities for those communities’ young people to train for, and return to jobs (if they so desire), that have often historically been taken up in Indigenous communities by non-Indigenous people.