What Young People Want from Employment Services
With Inclusive Employment Australia now live, Prospert is starting to think about the next tender on the horizon for Australia’s employment services sector.
At October’s NESA Youth Summit, sector stakeholders and young people gathered to share what’s working and what’s not in helping young Australians find meaningful work. The event was grounded in findings from Your Voice 2025, a national yourtown research project engaging 4,000 young people aged 12-25. The purpose of this blog is to share insights into what young people want from employment services and why the TtW program must evolve to meet their needs.
Young people want early, human and real support
The research found that young people want authentic, consistent relationships to help them engage and thrive. They want mentors who listen and support, not case managers who tick compliance boxes.
Young people are calling for services that are designed with them, not for them. They want clearer pathways, better coordination between state and federal systems and early intervention before crisis hits. NESA is advocating for TtW to become the default program for all young people under 25 with expanded eligibility to reach school leavers earlier and youth who are disengaged before 17.
Employment service providers positioning for the future of TtW need to show how they are building trust with young people through strategies like peer mentoring, post-placement support and safe, youth-friendly spaces.
Young people are worried about the cost of living
Your Voice 2025 found that 75% of young people see the cost of living, especially housing, education and transport, as a critical barrier to their wellbeing. Some are forced choose between paying the rent and buying food.
This message was echoed at the NESA Youth Summit, where young people identified transport cost as a major barrier to accessing employment and support. Recommendations from the Summit called for greater investment in transport solutions, particularly for rural and regional communities, including subsidised fares and funded driving lessons to help young people travel to training and work opportunities.
Young people are experiencing mental ill-health
Mental health remains the number one concern for young people with 70% calling for urgent government action. They described long wait lists, shame and stigma, and culturally unsafe services. Many said they could only access help when things reached a crisis point.
Employment service providers need to ensure they are providing trauma-informed, flexible and consistent support that feels safe for young people. Partnerships with youth mental health providers, counsellors and community services are integral to strong and effective employment programs.
Young people want system change
The Your Voice report showed that 65% of young people want reform of the education system, and almost half want change in employment policy. They’re asking for more practical, inclusive learning that prepares them for the future and helps them build real-world skills for work and life.
For providers, this means having strong local partnerships with schools, TAFEs, youth services and employers. It also requires a mindset shift that embraces innovative ways to create real pathways from classrooms to employment such as life skills training, work readiness, digital skills and financial capability.
Young people want employers to be engaged
Young people said employers are often absent from the employment journey. They called for workplaces that offer stronger mentoring and support. NESA’s recommendations include funded mentoring and onboarding support for employers to help young people succeed.
TtW providers need to demonstrate effective, structured employer engagement strategies, from co-designing training to post-employment support. Equipping employers with skills to mentor and retain young workers is essential to achieving meaningful, long-term outcomes.
Young people want to be heard
The most powerful message is that young people want more than consultation, they want their voices heard in a co-design process. They called for youth advisory groups, youth panels and employment programs built in partnership with them.
For employment service providers, that means creating strategies and structures for genuine youth participation, such as advisory groups, peer support, co-designed programs, feedback sessions, and youth ambassadors. Going forward, it’s likely the TtW procurement process will reward providers who can demonstrate that their services reflect the lived experiences of young people and that they deeply engage young people in service delivery.
What does this mean for your organisation?
Providers who act now, focusing on listening and embedding youth perspectives, engaging more effectively with employers, creating strategies and structures for delivery, will be the best positioned for success.
Prospert’s advice:
Develop your community and partnership engagement strategy
Integrate practical life skills and wellbeing supports into your service delivery model
Co-design with young people, not for young people
Demonstrate employer mentoring and sustained post-placement support
Ensure your team is adequately trained in employer and community engagement
Use lived experience and feedback for continuous improvement
If you’d like to discuss your current TtW program or explore new opportunities for youth employment, contact us today.