Early School Leavers project

Published: 13th August 2012

RDA Sydney (New South Wales) has been working in conjunction with education, employment and community organisations to explore strategies that will address high levels of youth unemployment. The group has worked together to create a tailored program that could be adopted by Job Services Australia providers and Registered Training Organisations on a continuous basis.

As a result, funding has been granted by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and NSW State Government for an Employment First pilot program for vulnerable school leavers living in disadvantaged suburbs in the Liverpool and Fairfield areas.

This innovative and holistic program comprises a set of interventions that include training in business units, personal development, vocational assessments, trade tasters, early identification of barriers and referral to services.

The cross section of content and interventions will address the different but interconnected dimensions of need, which combined together, will trigger the impetus needed for participants to make the transition into employment.

For more information, visit the RDA Sydney website.

(Pictured above) Early school leavers at a camp as part of the program.