Yorkies Food Services in Busselton was the first business in WA to use the federal government’s youth job PaTH program to hire a new employee.
Owner Cliff York heard about PaTH from his accountant when he was thinking of employing a new staff member and looked into it some more.
Under the program, employers are eligible for a Youth Bonus Wage Subsidy, if they employ a young person who has been unemployed for six months or more.
Mr York said he was happy to hire a junior and try the program as the business moved into a busier period.
“We are a family owned business and I knew that we would need more help to take the pressure off,” he said.
Mr York said the program had delivered what he hoped for and had given him confidence to move into the busier months with enough staff on board.
Employee, 22-year old Kallan was previously working in the building industry and taking on short-term, casual work with irregular shifts in hospitality.
Kallan said he had no prior experience in business administration and it was really nice to find an employer who was willing to provide training.
“A lot of employers when they take someone on are looking for a particular person who already has experience and are not willing to train people,” he said.
“It took a while but I finally found this job – it is really good – they are training me and I am doing a lot of things I have not done before.”
Forrest MP Nola Marino said since the program started there had been 55 young people in the South West who had transitioned from welfare to work.
“Breaking the cycle of welfare dependency by securing gainful employment has a profound effect on the individual, their family, the local economy and the community,” she said.
“The government’s Youth Jobs PaTH program is giving long-term unemployed young people in the South West the skills and experience to increase their chances of being considered for a job, and is assisting employers to give young people a go.”
Additionally, in Australia there were more than 9300 young people who had begun Employability Skills Training courses and more than 2100 internships.
“The very positive results to date clearly show that young people are willing to put their hand up and have a go with the right support,” she said.
For further information about Youth Jobs PaTH visit employment.gov.au/youth-jobs-path.