I write in response to the call for input into the ‘Positive Futures: Apprenticeships and Traineeships in Queensland’ paper. Families Australia thanks Jobs Queensland for this opportunity to provide input into the future of the Queensland apprenticeship and traineeship system.
Families Australia is a national, peak, not-for-profit organisation that strives to improve the wellbeing of Australian families, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised. Families Australia does this by providing policy advice to the Australian Government and Parliament on behalf of more than 800 member organisations around Australia. Please find below Families Australia’s comments on the paper seeking positive futures for apprenticeships and traineeships in Queensland.
Families Australia welcomes the focus of the QLD Government on improving training and employment outcomes for both Indigenous trainees and trainees with a disability. We also applaud QLD initiatives such as Next Step After Care and Care2Achieve.
This focus on vulnerable young people transitioning from out-of-home care is a great step towards achieving much improved outcomes for this small but important group (QLD Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services data shows 615 young people – 15-17 year olds – transitioning from care in 2015-16).
Families Australia calls for the future of apprenticeships and traineeships in QLD to clearly identify young people transitioning from care as a priority/target group with incentives and support linked to recruitment, retention and outcomes. Alongside a focus on scholarships and practical support we would encourage a mentoring program to support these young people to continue in their work and studies.
Thank you again for the opportunity to provide this submission to the paper ‘Positive Futures: Apprenticeships and Traineeships in Queensland’. Families Australia looks forward to the outcome of these consultations with a clear articulation of supports for young people transitioning from care.
