The Andrews Labor Government is helping at risk young people find work on major transport and infrastructure projects to help keep them out of the justice system.
Minister for Crime Prevention Ben Carroll and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan today launched Out for Good – a new initiative that will help up to 50 young people into meaningful employment on major projects, including the Metro Tunnel.
The Metro Tunnel will create room for an extra 500,000 people each week on the network in the morning peak.
This pilot initiative is an alliance between government, private industry and community organisations and will support young people aged 17 to 26 who have had previous involvement with the justice system to get a job in construction.
The Labor Government will invest $300,000 to support the establishment and delivery of this initiative and to fund an evaluation of the pilot. Existing Jobs Victoria partners – including Jesuit Social Services, the YMCA Bridge Project and GOAL Indigenous Services – will work to get young people into jobs and help employers to keep them.
Several major construction companies are supporting the pilot, including John Holland, Lendlease, CPB Construction, McConnell Dowell and Acciona.
Each company has agreed to work with the Labor Government and community partners to provide employment placements, mentoring and training to young people who may otherwise become entrenched in the criminal justice system.
The 2017 Armytage Ogloff Youth Justice Review highlighted the need to address the education and employment needs of young people to reduce re-offending, which is exactly what the Out for Good initiative aims to achieve.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Crime Prevention Ben Carroll
“Out for Good will help young people get a job, find purpose in their life and make an important contribution to the future of Victoria.”
“We’re helping more young people turn their lives around and stay out of the criminal justice system.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“Our massive pipeline of major transport projects is creating thousands of jobs and giving young Victorians the chance to turn over a new leaf.”
“The Metro Tunnel will not only deliver more trains more often, it is already helping young Victorians find work – the Out for Good initiative builds on that.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020