10,000 OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG AUSTRALIANS IN HOSPITALITY

The Turnbull Government is creating more pathways for young people to move off welfare and into a job with the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) increasing their target for the Youth Jobs PaTH program, aiming to deliver up to 10,000 internships.

 

This commitment from a key industry body will help deliver highly valuable experience to thousands of young Australians, helping them develop the skills they require to become job ready.

 

Minister Cash said the hospitality industry plays a key role in offering opportunities to young Australians and is a sector that is set to experience significant growth in the coming years.

 

“The hospitality sector already supports more than 870,000 jobs across Australia and is forecast to expand rapidly, with almost 100,000 jobs expected to be created in this sector in the next five years,” Minister Cash said.

 

“The Coalition has always stood by the belief that the best form of welfare is a job and the PaTH program is delivering opportunities for young Australians to gain the skills and experience they need to move off welfare and into work.”

 

The voluntary internships being offered forms part of the Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare-Trial-Hire) program, announced in the 2016-17 Budget and supported by an investment of more than $760 million.

 

Minister Cash said internships improve an applicant’s chances of finding employment and the early results clearly demonstrate the PaTH program is delivering promising outcomes for participants.

 

“The results achieved to date demonstrate that PaTH is working — to date we’ve seen 6,654 individuals commence a training course, 1,015 internship placements begin and 7,539 Youth Bonus wage subsidy agreements signed,” Minister Cash said.

 

“Of the 500 interns who have completed their placement, approximately 40 per cent have secured employment with either the host business or another employer. This is a fantastic outcome and today’s commitment from the AHA will ensure more young people are given a go and gain vital workplace experience.”

 

Australian Hotels Association WA CEO Bradley Woods said the PaTH program will help thousands of Australians who have had difficulty getting a start in a job to join the hotel industry.

 

“Getting a start in the world of employment is always hard, but PaTH offers a much-needed boost, which is just what so many young people want and need.  Financial support for both young people and business provides a platform for positive long-term employment outcomes,” Mr Woods said.

 

Minister Cash said the Turnbull Government is getting on with the job of helping more young Australians into work.

 

“We recognise that the best way to do this is to build a strong economy that enables employers to be more productive, competitive and innovative and to create more job opportunities,” Minister Cash said.

 

PaTH provides additional support to youths who need it most – those who are often highly disadvantaged either through their personal backgrounds, or by limited employment opportunities in their region.  It helps those who may not have stood much of a chance of securing work if not for this valuable programme.

 

The elements of Youth Jobs PaTH are:

 

Further information about Youth Jobs PaTH, including internships, is available at jobactive.gov.au/path