The Australian government's new Transition to Work programme, an employability scheme for young people and recent graduates, is underway with the appointment of 11 providers. 

The A$322m (£157.6m) programme will be delivered through individually tailored services to provide 15-21-year-olds assistance with vocational skills development, interview training and career advice.

The first of the providers are:

• Northern Joblink, for North and North Western Tasmania
• Karen Sheldon Catering, for Darwin
• N T Industry Training Bureau, for Darwin
• Communicare, for South Perth
• Stirling Skills Training, for South Perth 
• A4e (now trading as PeoplePlus) and Whitelion, for North Adelaide
• SYC for North Adelaide
• Workskil Australia, for North Adelaide
• G-Force Recruitment, for Barwon, Victoria
• Vocational Partnerships Group, for Cairns
• Joblink Plus, for Far West Orana, New South Wales

Further providers will be announced later this month.

The government funds several other employability initiatives, including the Empowering YOUth Initiative, focusing on those at risk of welfare dependency; Work for the Dole, which helps people aged 18+ become work ready; and the National Work Experience Programme, which provides unpaid experience.

• Want to comment on this story? The Comment box is at the bottom of the page. Sorry for the glitch but just scroll right down and share your opinions!