Job Seekers' Seminar opened at Leeming

2/7/97

Senior students at Leeming Senior High School will get an insight into the job market at a seminar opened today by Youth Minister and Murdoch MLA Mike Board.

The Job Seekers' Seminar, which is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Leeming, is aimed at students in years 10, 11 and 12.

It will be conducted by Chris Maxwell, director of Motivation Development Programs Australia.

Mr Board said the seminar would include a group discussion with employers and focus on:

·         preparing students for job interviews;

·         job interview techniques; and -

·         mock interviews with employers.

Mr Board praised the initiative of the Rotary Club of Leeming for organising the seminar and in particular its vocational director, Liz Westoby.

"Youth employment is a critical issue for all Western Australians and I congratulate community groups such as the Rotary Club of Leeming for working alongside the Government in addressing the issue," the Minister said.

"It is the first time the club has been involved in this type of seminar and it hopes to make the event an ongoing feature of its program in future years."

Mr Board said WA youth were better placed than those in other parts of Australia, with the State recording the lowest level of youth unemployment among 15-19 years at 17.3 per cent.

"That figure, however, is still too high and it is vitally important that we do everything we can in WA to create long-term job opportunities for our young people," he said.

"Our future lies with them and it is important that we provide our young people with the necessary training and education to see they gain full-time employment.

"Youth employment is one of the priority issues I have identified as Minister for Youth and is a key area being addressed by my recently established advisory council.

"The Youth Minister's Advisory Council will consult with young people in WA and those who work with and care for youth, to get their ideas and suggestions about what are the priority issues affecting youth and how they can be addressed."

Mr Board said several programs had already been introduced into the State's vocational education and training system to ensure WA had a skilled workforce ready to take up the opportunities offered to them.

He said the school-leaver program, aimed at helping young people in their transition from school to employment, had been significant.

Another scheme, the State Employment Assistance Strategy, had also assisted more than 30,000 people to access employment and labour market services in the past year.

Of that number, almost 6,000 people were placed in sustainable employment and about 2,000 were placed into education and training.

"Another exciting initiative, which is opening up options and improving pathways to employment for young people, is the Vocational Education and Training in Schools Program," Mr Board said.

"The program encourages the development of entry level training as part of senior secondary education.

"We aim to increase opportunities for students in Year 11 and 12 by providing resources in schools in partnership with training providers and industry."

Mr Board said the job market, particularly for young people, was undergoing major change.

"The Government is putting a lot of resources into developing a flexible system that equips people with the high level skills now demanded by employers," he said.

"Once they have acquired those skills, it will be lessons learned from seminars like this one that hopefully help our young people into full-time employment."

Media contact: Peter Harris 9222 9211