Helping young people get ‘first job ready’

Many young people are struggling to find decent jobs that set them up for the future.

Access to decent work is critical for young people to secure a good life. It also advances Australia’s prosperity. However, many young people are struggling to find decent jobs that set them up for the future. The pandemic accelerated the rise of national youth unemployment.

Malia* is a 21-year-old woman passionate about youth work and had been trying to get some work experience for over a year. Her friends told her to register with BSL’s Jobs Victoria First Jobs Project. This community-based program is designed to help young people aged between 15 - 29 years old who haven’t had paid work before, to become job-ready and support them into accessing employment.

Through the program, Malia was supported with a paid internship at one of BSL’s partners, The Huddle - a community partnership program run by the North Melbourne Football club which was established to engage, support and empower young people to build on their strengths, increase their ability to participate in society and contribute to more socially inclusive communities.

Here, Malia is gaining work experience related to her studies. She now has experience and skills that strengthen her resume and confidence. The Huddle team said that Malia’s connection to her community and insights were invaluable to them running a successful Winter Huddle Holiday program.

For students like Malia, enrolling in BSL’s Jobs Victoria First Jobs Project meant that she could get one-on-one support with writing cover letters, resumes and direct connections to relevant employment opportunities. In Malia’s words, ‘They believed in my strengths and ability to find work related to my studies – it increased my confidence.’

We know it’s difficult for young people to navigate their first job alone. Without adequate support, it can lead to a cycle of unemployment. The Jobs Victoria First Jobs Project supports young people like Malia to get a fair start in building a career.

To find out more visit The Jobs Victoria First Jobs Project here .

*Name changed to protect privacy