The Morrison Government is providing youth across regional Australia access to scholarships worth up to $5,000 per year, under a program to be delivered by apprenticeship services agency BUSY At Work.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the Commonwealth Scholarship Program for Young Australians, will provide around 400 scholarships to young people living in 10 regional locations with high levels of youth unemployment.
"The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring that every young Australian can find work. We're doing this by providing young people with intensive and targeted support to help them transition into meaningful employment," Minister Cash said.
"Through this program we are investing $8.2 million in young Australians to complete vocational education and training (VET) courses that train them for jobs that are in demand in their region."
The program supports young Australians at risk of long-term welfare dependency to enter the VET sector and gain the skills and qualifications they need to participate and thrive in a modern and strong economy.
Participants will be given the opportunity to complete a VET course from Certificate III to Advanced Diploma level and participate in a 20 business-day paid internship with a local business.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Program for Young Australians was announced as part of the $585 million Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow skills package in the 2019−20 Budget.
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships, Steve Irons MP said, he was pleased that the Morrison Government is partnering with BUSY At Work to deliver this critical program.
"BUSY At Work has been delivering Australian Government apprenticeship services for 22 years and, more recently, delivered support as an Industry Specialist Mentoring for Australian Apprentices Provider," Assistant Minister Irons said.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Program for Young Australians will be delivered in the following regions:
- Grafton and Gosford, New South Wales
- Alice Springs, Northern Territory
- Maryborough and Townsville, Queensland
- Port Pirie, South Australia
- Burnie, Tasmania
- Shepparton, Victoria
- Wanneroo and Armadale, Western Australia
