Tuesday, 13 March 2018
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands and Assistant Minister for Skills Adam Marshall today called onlocal businesses, community organisations and innovators across the region to get involved in an exciting NSW Government program to develop new solutions for youth unemployment.
Mr Marshall said the $10 million Youth Employment Innovation Challenge would provide funds for people and organisations to develop new and innovative ideas to help more young people into work.
“Youth unemployment is an issue that needs to be addressed and this new $10 million initiative is about getting local businesses, communities and government working together to conquer youth unemployment,” Mr Marshall said.
“The Youth Employment Innovation Challenge encourages new ideas and solutions to get young people into work and successful entries will be put into practice through the NSW Government’s Innovation Launch program, to assist 15-24 year olds who are not in employment, education or training.”
Mr Marshall said an information session on the initiative would be held next week, Thursday, 22 March, in Tamworth from 1.45 pm to 3.30pm at the UNE SMART Region Incubator, 24 Fitzroy Street.
Mr Marshall encouraged the local community to participate in the challenge.
“Having a job is one of the best ways to boost someone’s sense of self-worth,” he said.
“The Youth Employment Innovation Challenge is all about getting young people into jobs and I encourage everyone to get involved and share their ideas to help us make a real difference.”
Applications for the challenge are now open and close on 10 April with the best ideas then chosen and coached ahead of a shark tank-style pitch event in Sydney on 3 May.
“Finalists in the pitch event will be selected for an incubation program where they will be helped to develop their ideas into workable business models that can then be rolled out to tackle youth unemployment in their local communities,” Mr Marshall said.
“Funding will be available to support new ideas or to expand small programs that are already operating successfully, and getting young people into work.”
For more information on the Youth Employment Innovation Challenge or the local information session visit www.launch.innovation.nsw.gov.au/youthemployment