From New York to Frankston: new local program to boost youth job skills

Alarm: Youth unemployment in Frankston, Mornington Peninsula exceeds Vic average.

As youth unemployment approaches nearly 20 per cent in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, a global philanthropic fund has invested in a new employment skills program to help up to 140 locally unemployed young people.

The new Brotherhood of St Laurence program, Creating Futures for Youth , has been funded for 12 months by the New York-based Citi Foundation. It will offer career guidance, work placements and job search training for participants, and is to operate out of the Brotherhood's Frankston headquarters, the High Street Centre.

The program, which will reach out to local employers, schools and service clubs, has been launched as unemployment rates for 15-24 year olds in the Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula area remain stubbornly high.

In July, youth unemployment in the area reached 18.6 per cent – exceeding the Victorian average of 15 per cent, according to Australian Bureau of Statistic data.

"Young people today need strong supports in a much tougher job market to gain even entry level work," said Brotherhood of St Laurence chief Tony Nicholson. "We know youth unemployment has a scarring effect on young people and hurts their future prospects, including the chance of even holding down a steady job further down the track."

The Brotherhood will deliver the new program with the funding from the Citi Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the global bank, Citi.

Citi Australia's head of corporate affairs, Guy Matthews, said the program was in line with the foundation's objectives. "Investing in young people to connect them to jobs is at the core of Citi Foundation. We are delighted to be working with Brotherhood of St Laurence on this innovative program."

John Catto-Smith, who runs the Brotherhood's High Street Centre, said the new program will support 140 disadvantaged young people by supporting their transition from learning to employment. "We are trying to break the cycle of youth unemployment, give them real work experience, teach them how to communicate better and use motivational methods to reach youth."

Bruce Billson, Federal Minister for Small Business and Member for Dunkley, will launch Creating Futures for Youth at 2 pm on Friday 11 September 2015 at the Frankston High Street Centre.

Media enquiries: Deborah Morris, Communications Manager, phone: 0499 300 982.