Wide Bay’s BUSY At Work to deliver scholarship program to veterans and young Australians

Ex-service personnel in Maryborough, Gympie and the Cooloola Coast can access Australian Government funded scholarships worth up to $5,000 per year to help them re-enter the civilian workforce, under a program to be delivered by apprenticeship services agency BUSY At Work.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said the Commonwealth Scholarship Program for Young Australians was designed not just for youths aged 15 to 24, but also gave priority to ex-defence force personnel of all ages to help them gain new skills and qualifications to re-enter the workforce.

“Participants will have the opportunity to complete a VET course from Certificate III to Advanced Diploma level and also participate in a 20 business-day paid internship with a local business to help them retrain and gain new skills,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring the people who have served our country can find work in the private sector, and this intensive and targeted support will help them transition into civilian employment.”

The Commonwealth Scholarship Program for Young Australians, which commenced on 1 March 2020, will provide around 400 scholarships to young people living in 10 regional locations with high levels of youth unemployment.

“These scholarships are part of an $8.2 million investment from the Morrison Government to help veterans and young Australians complete vocational education and training (VET) courses that train them for jobs that are in demand in their region,” Mr O’Brien said.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Program for Young Australians was announced as part of the $585 million Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow skills package in the 2019−20 Budget.

BUSY At Work has been delivering Australian Government apprenticeship services for 22 years.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Program for Young Australians will be delivered in the following regions:

• Grafton and Gosford, New South Wales
• Alice Springs, Northern Territory
• Maryborough, Gympie, Cooloola Coast, and Townsville, Queensland
• Port Pirie, South Australia
• Burnie, Tasmania
• Shepparton, Victoria
• Wanneroo and Armadale, Western Australia

Applications for Round 2 open on 24 April 2020, to apply please visit http://www.busyatwork.com.au/scholarship-program-for-young-australians and more information is available at www.employment.gov.au/delivering-skills-today-and-tomorrow

ENDS