Youth Pathways helps those young people who are most at risk of not making a successful transition through school, and from school to further education, training, employment and active participation in the community.

Youth Pathways seeks to reduce the number of early school leavers who do not enter into further education, training or employment within one year of leaving school.

Youth Pathways achieves this by conducting individual assessments to identify particular challenges young people are facing. A transition plan is then developed, tailored to a young person's individual needs and aimed at helping them to address their obstacles. The plan outlines actions that will help to overcome these challenges. It is constantly updated to help the young person as they progress.

Once the plan has been worked through, Youth Pathways workers continue to support and guide the young person as they progress through their education or training and beyond.

Youth Pathways aims to encourage and support young people to:

• stay in or return to school through to completion of year 12 or its equivalent
• stay in or return to the non-school-based education, vocational learning or training they start, through to completion
• prepare for effective engagement in Job Network activities.

Youth Pathways is a national program with contracted providers in 100 service regions throughout Australia.

Before they can deliver services to young people, all Youth Pathways personnel undergo an Australian Federal Police criminal history check that fully discloses any charges or convictions against them.

Youth Pathways personnel include:

• employees of the organisation engaged to deliver Youth Pathways
• volunteers who support the delivery of Youth Pathways
• personnel within the organisation who may come into contact with Youth Pathways participants.

The Australian Government is committed to protecting children from harm and promoting their wellbeing.

For Youth Pathways Guidelines and other administrative documents, click here.