At its 30 April 2009 meeting, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a Compact with Young Australians to promote young people’s participation in education and training, providing protection from the anticipated tighter labour market, and ensuring they would have the qualifications needed to take up the jobs as the economy recovered.
The Compact with Young Australians is delivered under the National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions, which includes a range of measures to strengthen the education, training opportunities and support for young people.
The Compact with Young Australians has three elements to promote skills acquisition and ensure young people are learning or earning:
- A National Youth Participation Requirement which requires all young people to participate in schooling (or an approved equivalent) to Year 10, and then participate full-time (at least 25 hours per week) in education, training or employment, or a combination of these activities, until age 17.
- An entitlement to an education or training place for 15 to 24 year olds which focuses on attaining Year 12 or equivalent qualifications so young people have the necessary qualifications required to get and keep a job and develop their careers. Entitlement places are for government-subsidised qualifications, subject to admission requirements and course availability. (For 20 to 24 year olds who already have a Year 12 or equivalent qualification, the entitlement is to a place that would result in them attaining a higher qualification than they currently hold.)
- Strengthened participation requirements for some types of income support: the focus on learning or earning also applies to those under the age of 21 who seek income support through Youth Allowance (Other) or the Family Tax Benefit (Part A): if they do not have a Year 12 or equivalent qualification, these young people need to participate in education and training full-time, or participate in part-time study or training in combination with other approved activities, usually for at least 25 hours per week, until they attain Year 12 or an equivalent Certificate Level II qualification. Examples of the types of activities that could be approved, in combination with part time study or training, include part time paid work, voluntary work or a youth transitions program. Flexible arrangements and exemptions apply to those who cannot participate in this way.
The National Youth Participation Requirement is a minimum national requirement that states can go beyond if they wish. As required, jurisdictions have amended legislation such that this element of the Compact with Young Australians has been in effect since 1 January 2010.
The education/training place entitlement has been in effect for 15 to 19 year olds from 1 July 2009, and for 20 to 24 year olds from 1 January 2010. It is implemented by the states and territories through their school and VET systems. It is not possible to determine whether young people who undertake education or training in a school, TAFE or other education institution have done so as a result of their Compact entitlement.
The Compact with Young Australians will contribute to the states and territories achieving their targets under the National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions, however the reward payments are not directly attached to the Compact.
The education and training entitlement element of the Compact will be reviewed in April 2011 by COAG Senior Officials who will report to COAG on the effectiveness of the entitlement and make recommendations to COAG on whether the entitlement should be extended past 31 December 2011, taking into account economic conditions.
Fact sheets and Questions and Answers explaining the Compact with Young Australians can be accessed below.
- Fact sheet for young people aged 15 to 24 (
PDF 106KB | 
RTF 60KB)
- Fact sheet for parents, youth and community organisations, and relevant government departments and agencies
- Q&As on the Compact with Young Australians ( PDF 114KB | RTF 76KB)
Information on State and Territory activities involving the Compact with Young Australians is also available below: