With rates of unemployment among young people in the Mid North Coast reaching levels as high as 20 percent, Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast’s (RDAMNC) Kerry Grace knew it was time to bring focus to the organisation’s goal of creating change and truly innovating in this realm.
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RDAMNC brought the focus of their industry consultation to youth unemployment at the start of 2018, drawing together a database of employers who would like to create opportunities for young people.
The organisation quickly shifted gears when selected as one of 17 successful state-wide recipients in the NSW Government’s Youth Employment Innovation Challenge (YEIC).
Kerry said the challenge required the RDA team to attend a three month-long incubator programme based in Sydney.
The process was designed by the NSW Government to enable the applicants to hone their ideas and pitch a minimum viable product back to stakeholders at the end of the programme.
“It’s been an excellent experience for our team,” Ms Grace said.
“We’ve had a lot of support from employers, young people and service providers throughout our region and we look forward to developing a service that really creates change for young people.”
The Blueprint for Youth Pathways project links young people directly with potential employers using a digital platform which RDAMNC is currently developing.
RDAMNC’s innovation and media manager Russell Pell has led the project, attending workshops on design thinking, research, codesign, product design and pitching.
“Often young people and their families don’t know where to start in the search for employment,” Russell said.
“The platform will work with employers to understand the skills needed in their workplace and then link young people with that information enabling them to be more prepared when they walk through the door looking for a job.
“Young people can need a lot of additional support in seeking employment and the platform will link them with existing services to help with employment support, income support and even driving lessons.”
RDAMNC will pitch for the next phase of the project on August 30, and in the meantime continue to work alongside employers, service providers and young people to fine tune the platform and overall solution.
“Our region has what we need to change the game for young people,” Ms Grace said.
“It’s just a matter of linking everything together in a more logical way.”
