By ALESHA CAPONE
A NOT-FOR-PROFIT program which helps unemployed youths in Brimbank will operate for at least another year, thanks to the State Government.
YouthNow, which is based at the Visy Cares Hub in Sunshine, provides a Workplace Learning Co-ordinators (WLE) program which organises placements for 15 to 19-year-olds.
In parliament last month, Western Metropolitan Region MP Cesar Melham said funding for YouthNow’s program was due to end on 31 December this year.
“The program is a vital service that helps young people find pathways from education into meaningful employment,” Mr Melham said.
“It is a service that is especially important for the area I represent, the Western Metropolitan Region, because of the high youth unemployment rate across Melbourne’s West.”
Mr Melham called on the State Government to provide funding to continue the WLE programs across the state, for another 12 months.
A few days later, the Minister for Education Martin Dixon and Minister for Higher Education and Skills Peter Hall announced the State Government would devote $5.1 million funding to continue the WLE program during 2014.
Mr Dixon said funding arrangement changes under the Federal Government had created uncertainty about the future of the WLE program.
“We believe it is important to ensure the Workplace Learning Co-ordinators program continues next year,” he said.
“This program helps young people gain workplace experience at a crucial time in their careers and it helps increase the alignment between the training on offer – in schools, TAFEs, registered training organisations and Learn Local adult education providers – and the skills needed by local employers,” Mr Dixon said.
Mr Dixon said the State Government would also have further discussions with the Federal Government to determine funding arrangements for local networks and workplace co-ordination beyond 2015.
