Support young people to keep their grip on opportunity.

It is critical that once in school, a post-secondary qualification or a first work experience, young people remain in it until they are finished. 31 A focus on school dropout is needed because those who drop out prematurely experience a lack of access to higher education and training as well as fewer opportunities to participate in economic activities compared to their peers who finished their schooling. Similarly, whether the next step is work-integrated learning, work experience or a year of service in a public employment programme, young people need to be supported to remain connected. It is at these junctions that the broader ecosystem needs to work to retain the young person, providing them with further access to skills and information, and to build their sense of belonging and self-belief. This is particularly necessary in an environment where there are not enough jobs, particularly low and semi-skilled opportunities.

We need to create and advocate for youth-centred support that ensures young people are kept on a pathway to productivity and do not become discouraged. Once in work experience or work opportunities, young people need to receive onthe-job training to build necessary skills and competencies. This is why we must support organisations to function as spaces that foster meaningful economic progression for young people.

five-year aim:

› Achieve at least a 25% increase in successful student-to-work linkages and retention in first-work opportunities in support programmes funded by DGMT.

ALL YOUNG pEOpLE ON pATHWAYS TO pRODUCTIVITY