Young people benefit from new opportunities

The Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to improve life outcomes for young people is paying off with solid progress since the launch of the Queensland Youth Strategy in May last year.

Youth Minister Di Farmer said that progress could be seen in the release online of the Annual Youth Statement 2017-18 today.

“The report shines the spotlight on the work being done across Queensland to assist vulnerable and disadvantaged youngsters,” the Minister said.  

“Our youth strategy, which was guided by the input of more than 1,200 young people from across Queensland, targetted support for young people on housing, health and education that leads to employment.

“Some of the more significant highlights contained in the annual statement include 940 young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people gaining employment or training through the Youth Employment Program, with more than 78 per cent of them still employed after three months.

“In the area of housing we were able to support 72 young people who were at risk of losing their social housing tenancy and becoming homeless maintain their tenancies through the Sustaining Tenancies for Young People Pilot.”

Ms Farmer said 9472 young job seekers had been supported through the Back to Work Regional Employment package and more than 9000 Year 12 graduates received fee-free training through the Certificate 3 Guarantee and User Choice programs.

“I’m pleased to see that of the 120 actions and nine future directions contained in our Queensland Youth Strategy: Building young Queenslanders for a global future (QYS) action schedule 125 were either on track or had been completed,” she said.

Ms Farmer said in the educating into employment area, all 39 commitments had been completed.

“Significant progress has been made but we will not be easing off. We are committed to do more to secure a great future for young Queenslanders,” she said.

“This includes engaging with young people on a range of issues that are important to them.

“I have invited nominations to the new Queensland Youth Engagement Panel which will give 16 to 25-year-olds the chance to speak up for their generation and influence policy development.

“The panel will be reporting to me and it will be helpful for me to receive their advocacy.”

Minister Farmer said the focus for the coming year would be helping young people who are involved with or at risk of involvement with the youth justice system to re-engage with education or employment and driving initiatives to tackle bullying.

To view the Annual Youth Statement 2017-18 visit www.qld.gov.au/youth

For more information on the Queensland Youth Engagement Panel visit https://www.qld.gov.au/youth/be-involved-have-your-say/youth-engagement-panel.

Nominations close on 15 October 2018

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