Complete Guide to Transition to Work (TTW)

What is the Transition to Work Program?

Formerly called the Youth Employment Partnership (YEP), the Transition to Work program works closely with external organisations like the Australian Government, employers, job seekers and community groups. Together, these organisations support youth who might be at risk for long-term unemployment. When youth move into education or work immediately following high school, they have a much better chance of succeeding. 

Aimed at the 15-24-year-old demographic, this program is designed specifically for young people to be job-ready and assist them in getting into work.

DES, Community Development Program, and jobactive all work together to reach the same goals of helping Australians find and keep jobs they love, but they’re each unique:

• DES (Disability Employment Services) assists job seekers with a disability through DES providers like Asuria.
  
• The Community Development Program (CDP) is the Government’s remote employment and community development service. 
  
• The jobactive website helps connect job seekers with employers.
  

How Does Transition to Work Help Job Seekers?

Transition to Work is the Government’s youth specialist employment service, and it’s designed to help young people develop practical skills to get a job or connect with education or training. Often, young job seekers need pre-employment support in the form of further training, education or apprenticeship. But that’s not all. 

Transition to Work focuses on building a young person’s skills, confidence and readiness to enter employment. To achieve this goal, TTW provides helps with the following:

• Developing practical job-seeking skills
  
• Connecting young people with education or training
  
• Finding and completing work experience placements
  
• Finding job opportunities within easy commuting distance
  
• Connecting with relevant local community services.
  

TTW providers like Asuria have abundant experience working with young people who have left school early or encountered difficulties entering employment. These providers also have strong links with employers, community services and local schools.

How Does TTW Help Employers?

And TTW doesn’t just help job seekers. Employers have been struggling to find workers for many positions. ABC News reports that Australia is still suffering critical skilled worker shortages in many different industries. The Transition to Work program helps employers find young, trained workers to fill many positions.

Transition to Work providers work closely with employers to identify the right person for their open position. They’ll make sure the young worker receives pre-employment skills and training relevant to their business needs. 

But the assistance doesn’t end there. When employers hire a young person through the TTW program, the employer and the youth will receive ongoing post-placement support from the Transition to Work provider. We’ll stay in regular contact to ensure the young person is settling into the role and meeting employer expectations.

Additionally, employers may receive a wage subsidy of $10,000 when they employ a young person. This subsidy covers hiring costs and training expenses. Your Transition to Work provider can help you access the allowance. 

Who’s Eligible for Transition to Work?

According to the jobactive website, to participate in the Transition to Work program, a young person must be:

• Aged 15-24, and
  
• an Australian citizen, or
  
• the holder of a permanent visa, or
  
• New Zealand Special Category Visa, or
  
• Nominated Visa (including Temporary Protection Visa or Safe Haven Visa).
  

Eligibility also rests on a young person’s circumstances, including whether the person:

• has been awarded a Year 12 certificate or Certificate III
  
• has been employed within the last six months
  
• receives an income support payment such as Youth Allowance
  
• is currently participating in another employment service, including jobactive.
  

If you’re interested in participating in Transition to Work, get in touch with us at Asuria. One of our friendly Youth Job Coaches will be happy to help you learn about your eligibility.

Who is Transition to Work Suited To?

Transition to Work works well for young people who are at risk of long-term unemployment. Such a risk can stem from many factors. For some, personal challenges can interfere with confidence or the perception that they can succeed in a job.

For others, challenges at school or a previous job can pose obstacles to employment. One Transition to Work participant put it this way:

“For me the mental health thing that they were doing was something really helpful that they did. Because of that I was having a lot of trouble re-writing things because I have a really bad habit of second guessing myself and thinking I’m not doing the job. So, trying to get help from mental health probably really helped with that.”

Whether a young person is dealing with mental health, personal challenges or working through a tough time, Transition to Work can help with moving forward and creating a solid foundation for the future.

What is the Youth Bonus Wage Subsidy?

The Youth Bonus wage subsidy is a financial incentive of up to $10,000 (GST inclusive) to help employers hire eligible young job seekers.

Payments are available over six months, and employers can often negotiate how often they receive them. For example, some choose to receive a kickstart payment of up to 40 per cent of the total wage subsidy after four weeks of a job starting.

Eligible businesses have an Australian Business Number and have not previously received a Youth Bonus wage subsidy for the same job seeker. Also, your business cannot be an Australian, state or territory government agency. 

What is a Transition to Work Provider?

According to the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, there are currently 43 organisations providing TTW services in 51 employment regions. Therefore, young people across Australia have access to a service with a strong focus on helping young people understand what is expected in the workplace and develop the skills, attitudes and behaviours expected by employers.

Asuria Transition to Work Provider

When you work with Asuria, either as a young job seeker or an employer, you can access an incredible range of resources and experience.

We’ve assisted many young people in their quest to find meaningful work. Rahnee, for example, came to us with no particular credentials and little experience that would recommend her to an employer. 

Through the Transition to Work program, Rahnee paired up with our Engagement Officer Anna. Anna laid the groundwork for Rahnee to find a sustainable job that would provide her with a sufficient income, as she had recently moved to Sydney.

“She genuinely cared about my needs and experiences and met me on an equal level that I, as a young person, had not often experienced,” said Rahnee.

The Transition to Work team offered a short training session to help participants build confidence, conflict resolution skills and techniques, with the chance to meet other young people. Rahnee also completed a four-day course called Take Control, which was delivered by our team at AETS. Shortly after that, Rahnee found work that met her needs and exceeded her expectations.

How Do You Join the Transition to Work Program?

If you want to join the Transition to Work program, either as a job seeker or an employer, you can receive a referral from Centrelink or jobactive or work directly with a TTW provider.

At Asuria, we help facilitate the Transition to Work program for employers and job seekers as they work to achieve their goals. If you’d like to check your eligibility or chat about your work goals, you can reach us by filling out the form on this page.

10 Tips for Finding a Job With No Experience

When they first start looking for a job, many people immediately find themselves confronted with a difficult situation: they need the experience to get a job, but how will they get that experience?

Fortunately, this is a hurdle you can overcome. Here are ten tips that will help you land that first job.

1. Be proactive in your education

Not every job requires formal education, but you’ll have an edge when you can prove you’re qualified or have transferable skills. So take some classes, attend workshops, and earn certificates that show employers you have motivation, commitment and a desire to learn.

2. Work your way up

Even if you don’t earn much (or anything) at first, get your hands dirty and start working. You could volunteer, find an internship or participate in a training program to learn the tools of the trade. You might not make much money, but you’ll gain experience, and that’s golden.

3. Expand your network

Talk to friends, family members, former teachers and other people who care about you. Your Asuria Youth Job Coach will also have connections with local employers. 

4. Prepare your resume

What’s the use of creating a resume if you don’t have any previous work experience? Even if you haven’t held a job before, you probably have some experiences that employers find valuable. Your Youth Job Coach can help you to construct a resume that features your skills and talents.

5. Practice interviewing

Most people clam up when it’s time for a job interview, but you can overcome your fears through practice. Consider how you will answer common questions, and practice interviewing with family members, friends, or your Youth Job Coach until you feel confident.

6. Prepare your wardrobe

It’s better to dress too formally than too casually when you go to a job interview, so make sure you have a professional-looking outfit for the first time you meet a potential employer. Avoid wrinkles and holes, and wear something that makes you look and feel great.

7. Find a mentor

People love to share the wisdom they’ve learned over the years, and you can benefit enormously from working with a mentor. By learning from someone who has already walked your career path, you can avoid mistakes and take advantage of hard-earned knowledge.

8. Be teachable

Everyone understands what it’s like to work at a first job. It can sometimes be intimidating and uncomfortable, but it’s also exciting and rewarding. Don’t feel like you have to pretend to know everything at the beginning. When you talk with potential employers, express your eagerness to learn. They were once young, first-time employees themselves.

9. Join the Transition to Work program

If you qualify for TTW, join the program and experience all the benefits. You’ll have access to terrific resources and caring people who want you to succeed.

10. Call us at Asuria

To get started on your path to employment, reach out to us at 1800 773 338, or fill out this form. Within a working day, an Asuria Youth Job Coach will contact you for an in-depth conversation. You’ll get to introduce yourself in more detail and tell us what kind of job you’d like to land. In addition, we will ask several questions to see if you are eligible to participate in any of our matching services, such as the Transition to Work program.

We look forward to helping you reach your goals. Talk soon!