The NSW Business Chamber’s Skillsroad Show is in town this week, delivering their market leading careers program to the doorsteps of Batemans Bay youth. With the Southern Highlands and Illawarra’s youth unemployment rate at approximately 24% it is important that the community works together to address a challenge that affects us all.
Founded by the NSW Business Chamber as part of the Australian Government’s Empowering Youth initiative, the Skillsroad Show aims to encourage school-aged youth and job seekers to find the career that’s right for them. The program delivers access to information that’s often unreachable to regional NSW.
Skillsroad’s interactive mobile careers hub provides face-to-face mentoring opportunities with career specialists and access to work experience and jobs, bringing invaluable experience and tools to the youth of the community.
Skillsroad Show Community Activation Manager, Luke O’Hare, highlights the need for young people to consider all the options available to them when making those first steps towards their career.
“My role is to assist the youth of Batemans Bay to understand the importance of forward planning, making positive choices and educating them about the various options available to them.”
“But we need the support of local businesses to really make a difference. We know that when young people get good exposure to industry and the workforce both whilst in school and as they transition into work, they are more likely to get into the right career for them” said Mr O’Hare.
There are so many ways to get involved. NSW Business Chamber is asking local employers to join the movement by pledging support at pledgeforyouth.com.au. For those employers who aren’t in a position to create a job for a young person, you can volunteer time to speak with youth about your industry, create an open day at your workplace or even offer work experience.
To date, the program has resulted in several success stories, with 259 jobs already posted since its inception, and a bank of NSW businesses continuing to pledge support for youth.
For more information on the Skillsroad Show, please visit www.skillsroadshow.com.au. To pledge for youth go to www.pledgeforyouth.com.au. Media Release
