The Inner Eastern Local Learning and Employment Network (IELLEN) established the e2e (Education to Employment) Working Group comprised of stakeholder members to respond to worrying levels of youth disengagement and unemployment, and to consider actions to improve youth transitions and pathways. As a first step, this group agreed to develop a discussion paper. This paper provides key reflections from the group and might be best summarised as a response to two related questions: how to ensure all young people see a future for themselves and how to ensure all young people have a future.
The group
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The Inner Eastern Local Learning and Employment Network (IELLEN) established the e2e (Education to Employment) Working Group comprised of stakeholder members to respond to worrying levels of youth disengagement and unemployment, and to consider actions to improve youth transitions and pathways. As a first step, this group agreed to develop a discussion paper. This paper provides key reflections from the group and might be best summarised as a response to two related questions: how to ensure all young people see a future for themselves and how to ensure all young people have a future.
The group has aimed for a wide ranging overview of issues in relation to the disengagement of young people from education, and youth unemployment. Accordingly, the paper's recommendations are based on five principles to guide future investment in the education, and transitions of young people. These principles are: (1) every young person, including those in the middle years, should have an opportunity to access education, and other related services they may need, to ensure that they can learn, develop and flourish; (2) additional resources should be directed towards particular cohorts where outcomes are poor or where the risk factors for poor outcomes are high; (3) investment should also focus on achieving improved outcomes including successful post-education transitions; (4) young people themselves should be given a say in what they need; and (5) recognising the social and economic benefits of investing in young people, the responsibility for improved transitions and pathways can be shared by all. Eleven themes, or areas, are then identified, and these serve as headings for each section, which includes recommendations: policy; consultation; funding youth specific programs; workforce strategy for professionals involved in the education and support for young people, including professional learning; partnerships including with industry; education disengagement; education through [Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning] VCAL and [vocational education and training] VET; disabilities; middle years; abuse and trauma; and diversion from the justice system into support services.
Edited excerpts from publication.
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