This submission from the Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) addresses the Parliamentary Inquiry into Student Pathways to In-Demand Industries. Published in August 2025, the document presents 18 recommendations aimed at improving student transitions from education to employment.
The submission emphasises the critical role of youth workers in supporting young people’s career development, distinct from teachers and career counsellors. It argues that youth workers provide holistic, strengths-based support that helps students navigate complex barriers including socio-economic disadvantage, mental health challenges, and regional isolation.
Key recommendations include scaling up youth workers embedded in schools, improving career education delivery across all year levels, and addressing student placement poverty through support payments. The submission also advocates for longer funding contracts (seven years) for community service organisations and ensuring youth workers receive appropriate remuneration under the SCHADS Award.
The document highlights persistent issues with career advice provision, including delayed career education, bias towards university pathways over TAFE, and insufficient support for disadvantaged students. It presents evidence that youth work delivers a social return on investment of $2.62 for every dollar spent.
The submission features five case studies demonstrating effective youth work programmes and concludes that strengthening the youth work profession is essential for supporting students into in-demand industries, particularly community services and healthcare sectors.
