Budget 2016 targets youth unemployment

The 2016 “17 Federal Budget reveals a strong focus on getting young people into work, with the $840 million Youth Employment Package. Meanwhile, higher education reforms have been put on hold, pending the results of July's election. For Victorian families, last week's state budget signals good news for the education sector, with a sizeable investment in school infrastructure. We take a look at some of the key measures from both budgets below.

Federal Budget 2016 “17

Youth Jobs PaTH program

The government will introduce a $752 million Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare-Trial-Hire) program, which will help up to 120,000 vulnerable young people take advantage of job opportunities and move off welfare support. The program is structured into three stages:

• Stage one employability skills training (April 2017): Jobseekers participate in intensive pre-employment training, where they learn skills such as working in a team, presentation and job hunting, along with appropriate IT skills.
  
• Stage two internship program (July 2017): Jobseekers gain hands-on experience in the workplace. Interns work 15 to 25 hours per week over an internship placement of four to 12 weeks. In addition to workplace experience, interns will receive $200 a fortnight (on top of their income support payment), while businesses that take on interns receive an upfront payment of $1000. The program will offer 120,000 places over four years.
  
• Stage three Youth Bonus wage subsidy (January 2017): Australian employers will be encouraged to hire young jobseekers who have been in employment services for six months or more, receiving increased and streamlined wage subsidies. Employers who hire jobseekers deemed as ˜job ready' are eligible for a wage subsidy of $6500, while those who take on jobseekers classified as less job ready receive $10,000.

What the Budget means for jobseekers

Looking at jobseekers more generally, the Budget will also provide:

• $89 million to support those wishing to start their own business
• an increase in the number of places in the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) from 6300 to 8600, with eligibility expanded to allow those not in employment, education or training (including those not on income support) to participate in the program
• the establishment of ˜Exploring Being My Own Boss' workshops to further encourage jobseekers to explore self-employment.

What the Budget means for schools

The school sector will benefit from:

• an additional $1.2 billion between 2018 and 2020 for government and non-government schools
• $118 million for school students with a disability
• $5.9 million to expand the Early Learning Languages Australia program to all pre-schools from 2017.

Victorian Budget 2016 “17

As part of the Andrews Government's commitment to the ˜Education State', the 2016 “17 Victorian Budget reveals a $1.1 billion education package. Key investments include:

• $924 million for new and upgraded school buildings, including $287 million to acquire land or finish building 23 new schools
• $156 million for special needs education, including $68.5 million for upgrades to 20 specialist schools and $22 million for support services for students with autism and dyslexia
• $92 million for 10 new tech schools
• $10 million for early learning facilities in growth areas
• $43 million to provide weekly doctor visits to up to 100 schools, including $35 million on staffing and training and $18 million on the construction of consultation rooms.

Useful links:

• Budget 2016 “17 official federal government Budget website
• Budget 2016: Winners and losers ABC
• Victorian Budget 2016/17 official state government Budget website
• Victorian state budget 2016 The Age