This service is part of the Australian Government’s Youth Employment Strategy, providing young people aged 15 to 21 with the support and skills they require to become work ready or to find their way back to education.

Services will be delivered in Maitland, Cessnock and Kurri Kurri and will provide a fantastic opportunity for Mai-Wel’s experienced staff to work with local disengaged or disadvantaged young people.

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Transition to Work is part of the Australian Government’s Youth Employment Strategy which was announced in the 2015-16 budget and will see $322 million being committed to the service over four years.

“This four-year funding initiative will allow the experienced team of Mai-Wel staff to support this group of young people at risk of long-term unemployment, or not being able to transition from school to the workforce or further training,”  Mai-Wel CEO  Pennie Kearney said.

It is estimated the Transition to Work initiative will help around 29,000 people each year who require intensive support to address the barriers they face when trying to enter and remain in the workforce. 

Transition to Work will be delivered by community-based organisations who are experienced in working with young people and will offer a range of tailored, individual or self-directed activities.

To facilitate the service, Norm Chapman has joined The Mai-Wel Group bringing with him more than 15 years experience in employment services.

“For many of us, some of the assistance offered via Transition To Work may not seem that significant, but for a young person that has left school early or is disengaged and without a support network, it is this type of support that can make a great difference,” Ms Kearney said.

Although only in its early days, the Mai-Wel Transition to Work team has commenced 110 participants on the path to improving their skills and gaining employment. Some of the support provided to date has included assisting participants with enrolment into Skills for Education and Employment to improve literacy and numeracy skills, arranging work experience, assisting with job applications and sourcing training, right through to providing guidance on accessing support to get new reading glasses.

To support the program, Mai-Wel is seeking interested businesses who are eager to support youth via work experience opportunities, work placement or employment.  For more information, contact Nadine Leary on 0437 828 621 or (02) 4934 3144.