By Jessica Micallef
Melbourne’s north west is one of the six worst youth unemployment hot spots in Victoria, according to new data.
A report from the Brotherhood of St Lawrence, which analysed unemployment data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, revealed 13.3 per cent of youth among 15 to 24 year-olds in the North West region (which takes in Sunbury, Broadmeadows and Meadow Heights) are unemployed.
The national average for youth unemployment is 11.2 per cent.
The Brotherhood’s executive director, Conny Lenneberg, said the data dispelled myths about young people in the community, and called for more action to address high unemployment.
“We remain especially concerned at how young people without qualifications and skills or family networks are tracking in this rapidly changing economic and social environment,” Ms Lenneberg said.
“All young jobseekers in Australia need to have access to a specialist youth employment service.
“We still have a fragmented response to employment services for young people.”
Hume planning and development director Michael Sharp said the council was “committed to supporting Hume residents to gain employment”.
Mr Sharp said the council worked closely with industry and business to promote Hume as a place for new business and supported existing businesses to grow.
“Council also actively builds partnerships with local employers, training providers and other government organisations to help facilitate local employment,” he said.
Mr Sharp said programs such as Hume Hospitality Path were a big part of the council’s approach.
“This program is funded as part of the Australian government’s Youth PaTH initiative and has successfully helped provide training and employment opportunities for young Hume residents,” he said.
“The Hume Hospitality Path program is a collaboration between the Hume Employment and Learning Committee, the Bendigo Kangan Institute and Delaware North.
“To date, 25 Hume young people have completed the program and 15 have secured ongoing employment with businesses across Melbourne Airport.”
