Question 1

NYEB National Employer Working Group kicks off to co-design National Employer Guide

Accepted Answer

Over six weeks leading up to their first meeting, Anamlee and Stacey from the NYEB Enabling Organisation Practice team conducted deep-dive sessions with each employer to map out their youth employment journeys, regional contexts, capability needs, and local industry opportunities. Each business was nominated through its local Community Innovation Committee (CIC) or Youth Employment Body, highlighting the strength of these regional networks.
The deep dive sessions allowed Stacey and Anamlee to map out their youth employment journeys, regional contexts, capability needs, local industry opportunities and the benefit hiring young people has had on their workplace culture.
A common theme emerged across the deep-dive conversations: hiring for potential by replacing rigid resumes with practical trials. Employers consistently emphasised that success relies on supporting managers to lead with empathy, adapt their communication styles, and provide dedicated mentors during onboarding. 
Quotes that stuck out to Anamlee and Stacey from those conversations in the lead up to the first group meeting
&#8220;Developing our own talent pipeline is critical, especially with skill shortages in the positions and vacancies that we had.&#8221;
&#8220;When you invest in structured onboarding and give young people a clear pathway, the payoff in team morale and staff loyalty is immediate.&#8221;
&#8220;We&#8217;ve changed for certain roles&#8230; we don&#8217;t require a CV.&#8221; 
&#8220;Shifting our focus to soft skills and attitude over years of experience has completely refreshed our workplace culture.&#8221;
&#8220;Building a local talent pipeline isn&#8217;t just about filling immediate roles; it&#8217;s about keeping our young people here.&#8221;
&#8220;Addressing transport and licensing hurdles early on is what turns a short-term placement into long-term retention.&#8221;
At the same time, businesses candidly shared the ongoing challenges of navigating fundamental workplace readiness and soft skills gaps.
To address wellbeing and retention since COVID, one employer highlighted their success in upskilling leaders through Youth Mental Health First Aid training and delivering emotional intelligence training to young staff.
Beyond internal workplace dynamics, members frequently pointed to systemic and logistical barriers, including inconsistent support available from employment services, public transport gaps and driver’s license requirements, that directly impact long-term youth retention.
The working group also established &#8216;The Deal&#8217;, an Advantaged Thinking approach to setting shared group commitments.
During a review of the draft &#8220;First 5 Shifts&#8221; onboarding tool based on the Gold Coast Youth Employment Body’s Employer Toolkit, members shared real-world strategies for early integration: 
In manufacturing this looks like starting new hires with basic tool familiarisation and factory tours to provide context without overwhelming them. 
In aged care, a first-two-weeks focus on shadowing staff and building relationships with aged care residents to embed organisational values early.
The way one member reframed addressing employer hesitation is great food for thought:
&#8220;We have an aging workforce and we need to&#8230; break down stereotypes that young people are hard work. They are just a different kind of work&#8221;.
The working group will meet monthly over the next three months to refine the toolkit. Keep an eye out for the official launch of the National Employer Guide at the upcoming Community of Practice and Policy in November.

Question 2

Young people, local council and Logan Youth Employment Body collab to present career skills workshop

Accepted Answer

Local young people leading in Logan
		LYAG member Eden, who also sits on the NYEB Youth Advisory Board, was involved in the content, delivery, and MC duties for the Workplace Skills workshop, with other LYAG members taking the lead on workshops that covered financial literacy and cooking skills.&#8220;At the beginning of the year, LYAG members, with the help of Ranandy (the coordinator of LYAG), looked for problems impacting youth in the community and found that youth employment was a huge issue in Logan.&#8221; &#8220;So, to solve this issue, we proposed holding a youth employment workshop to provide young people in Logan with the resources and support to get employed.&#8221; &#8220;I remember what it was like trying to get a job, so I was interested in running this workshop because it would have been a resource I wish I&#8217;d had.&#8221;		
Community-sector collaborates with council
		A conversation between Cherie, the Transition to Work coordinator at yourtown who also coordinates the Logan Youth Employment Body, and Ranandy, the Community Development Officer from Logan City Council who coordinates the LYAG, led to the Logan Youth Employment Body getting involved.
“We were at a community event when Ranandy mentioned to me the project that LYAG were working on. I offered to partner with LYAG and provide the space for these workshops to be held” recounts Cherie.
Logan Youth employment Body members also volunteered to speak on the panel and share their career stories and advice for young people on the night of the careers skills workshop. 
Anatomy of a workshop: design
															
		LYAG members Eden and Kugi led the Career Skills workshop, which involved planning the agenda, activities, and speaking notes, and organising for some of the guest speakers to attend while working with yourtown to facilitate.
&#8221; I was interested in running this workshop because I wish I&#8217;d had something like this as a resource when I was trying to get a job. It was also interesting to me because of the work I do with NYEB and the youth advisory board, using my knowledge from there really helped in running and planning the session.&#8221;
“We discussed within LYAG what we saw as the most challenging parts of getting a job. The group drew on personal experiences, as well as experiences of friends and family, so we could get a better understanding of what was needed.&#8221;
&#8220;We settled on resumes and cover letters, how to prepare for an interview, and a panel discussion with people from different types of jobs and employment journeys who could speak about their experiences.&#8221;
&#8220;We discussed it with Cherie and decided to run it in a very hands-on way. The first activity involved using a template to write a cover letter and resume, and the second focused on mock interviewing and how to properly prepare for a job interview.&#8221;
&#8220;This hands-on approach was more interactive for participants, especially since they were young people.&#8221;
Anatomy of a workshop: on the day
																														
The session focused on building young people’s confidence and preparing for employment. At the end of the session, a panel featured local councillor Cr. Mindy Russell and Logan Youth Employment Body members Paul Bailey from Logan City Council, Alexis Frederick-Matthew from Regional Development Australia Redlands and Cherie from yourtown.
Panellists spoke about their first jobs, their current roles and offered practical tips on how to stand out to employers. Fun fact: Cherie’s first job was picking strawberries!
Eden reflected that it showed people attending that
“the job you start out in doesn’t have to be a glamorous one, and a first job in a different industry from the one you want to pursue won’t stop you from eventually getting there later on.”  
“To organise the activities and decide the best way to run them, we consulted Cherie and Ranandy throughout the process. They were both amazing support during the planning” says Eden.
yourtown staff also provided hands-on support to help young people prepare for interviews and feel job-ready.
“Special shoutout to Cherie and some of the other people at yourtown who stayed back late to help run the program with LYAG” says Eden.
Anatomy of a workshop: on the day
At different points in their careers, Cherie and Eden took something different away from the experience.
Cherie said that the workshops reiterated to her that “yourtown are running the right kind of events. 
&#8220;These events are important to young people because they were designed and delivered by members of the Logan Youth Action Group with the support of the LYAG Coordinator from Logan City Council and staff from yourtown, to young people from across the community.&#8221;
&#8220;Adults don’t enjoy long-winded PowerPoint presentations and neither do young people. It’s important to ensure that learning environments for young people are less like school and more about collaboration and sharing experiences.&#8221;
Anatomy of a workshop: the debrief
Eden, on the other hand, has a “new appreciation for every workshop” she attends because “the amount of work and planning that goes into just a couple of hours is harder than it seems.&#8221; 
&#8220;But I was glad I was able to experience the behind-the-scenes of planning a workshop. Leading the session was a brilliant experience. Now I have a new skill.&#8221;
The event was promoted through word-of-mouth LYAG members’ connections and the Logan Youth Network (LYN) as well as at all the yourtown youth employment services sites. Only a few people showed up out of everyone who had RSVP&#8217;d – but Eden was quick to share how they adapted and found a positive.
“It was a bit disheartening at first and required me to adapt the activities with the LYAG and yourtown team, but that ended up being a good thing, because with a smaller group, we were able to individualise help better.”
“Next time, if I were to plan a workshop, I would have more community leaders talk about the event to better promote it to the community. I don’t think the promotion we did with flyers and word of mouth properly reached our target group of young people. As a result, the people who we did reach just didn’t need to attend the workshop as they already had a job.”
																														
Cherie was keen to show the group photos from the second workshop as well as the first because they had a much bigger turnout at their second event, saying that the LYAG members learnt more about promoting events as they went along. 
&#8220;The LYAG learnt more about how to promote their events, and also financial literacy was of interest to a lot of young people in the LYAG&#8217;s networks. Learning about savings, AfterPay, how to get a car loan, what to watch out for, how to see a scam is important to young people. &#8220;

Question 3

Meet the Youth Advisory Board: Nansi from Hume, NW Melbourne

Accepted Answer

What was your first ever job?
My first ever job was as a retail assistant at Melbourne Airport. I started in November 2022, and I am still working in the same job today. It has taught me a lot about communication, customer service, responsibility and working with different people.
How did you go from there to here?
While continuing my retail job and my studies, I got more involved with BSL’s Hume Thrive Hub. I attended different activities and workshops and met many people. Through these experiences, I was introduced to the NYEB opportunity, applied for it, and was fortunate to be selected.
What&#8217;s something different about your local community?
One thing I really value about my local community is how multicultural and diverse it is. You meet people from so many different backgrounds and hear different stories and perspectives. I think that diversity makes the community more welcoming and interesting. 
What are you working on right now?
Right now, I am focused on my bachelor&#8217;s degree [in Paramedicine] and building my experience in healthcare. I am also working with NYEB and preparing for the Community of Policy and Practice (CoPP) gathering in Melbourne this November.
What&#8217;s a tip for someone trying to do what you&#8217;re doing?
Be patient with yourself and stay consistent. You don&#8217;t have to have everything figured out straight away. Keep learning, take opportunities when they come, and don&#8217;t let setbacks stop you from moving forward
What do you want to learn next?
I am interested in exploring more opportunities available for young people across Australia, so I can discover different pathways, programs, and experiences that help young people in my community.
About Nansi
Nansi Khayat is a Bachelor of Paramedicine student living in Melbourne with a strong passion for health, emergency response, and community service. Coming from a refugee background, she is dedicated to creating opportunities for young people, particularly those from refugee and migrant communities. Inspired by her own personal experiences, Nansi has committed herself to a career focused on helping others.
Alongside her studies, she is a member of the National Youth Employment Body’s Youth Advisory Board, Advisory Board and Hume Community Investment Committee contributing to projects that amplify young voices and develop practical solutions for youth employment. Known for her friendly and genuine approach, Nansi is able to connect with people from all walks of life. Nansi enjoys engaging in community events and creative projects that celebrate culture and bring people together.

Question 4

Youth Advisory Board Co-Design Lessons

Accepted Answer

Anna and Kianni’s reflections offer a clear look at how the four core elements of co-design operate in practice on the NYEB Youth Advisory Board: 
1. Purposeful Engagement
Moving beyond generic activities by providing coaching, structured guidance, and systemic context so members can tackle specific issues meaningfully. 
&#8220;If you asked us a year ago what work we want to produce and what kind of legacy we want to leave it would have been completely different&#8230; We have gotten really specific, a lot of the YAB are putting our hand up for advocacy positions. This all happened because you have taken the time to unpack the employment system and help us better understand&#8230; It really took time and patience from Anamlee and Mads.&#8221; — Kianni 
&#8220;Talking to the other young people from around Australia and realizing&#8230; we all are noticing the same sort of problems and realizing it comes back to the same sort of things made us quite passionate about it, believe it or not, and want to do something about it and talk about it. So, I think just being given the space to work it out together really radicalised us.&#8221; — Anna 
2. Balanced Power Dynamics
Ensuring young people see their ideas written down, acted upon, and carried into high-level decision-making spaces like the National Advisory Board. 
&#8220;Most of us have experienced being tokenised as young people — feeling like we were there just to tick a box&#8230; The YAB experience with NYEB feels very different because we are seeing our ideas put into action. The advocacy paper we’re working on came directly from our conversations and shared experiences, showing that the issues we raise aren’t just talk.&#8221;— Kianni 
3. Inclusive Practices
Creating psychological safety through tools like initial anonymous responses (Mentimeter), visual whiteboards, and supportive questioning that validates every contribution. ​
&#8220;I guess in every meeting seeing whatever you&#8217;re saying written down really does help reinforce that what you&#8217;re saying is being listened to&#8230; And even within the webinar and resource making, having the structure of a timeline and certain goals made it feel really real. And it is turning into something real&#8230;&#8221;— Anna 
4. Sustained Commitment
Giving young people the time, space, and ongoing support needed to build their knowledge, hone their advocacy skills, and see projects through from start to finish. 
&#8220;Being able to sit with these problems and find certain things that we can actually do stuff about has helped. And even just getting the language to talk about these problems and practice speaking and being heard—I mean being listened to&#8230; I know that what I have to say is valid, and I know how to say it.&#8221;— Anna 
&#8220;I think my confidence has grown a lot through having the space and support to regularly talk about these issues&#8230; I also feel more confident because I understand the topics I’m speaking about and can advocate with more knowledge behind me. I’m seeing that my voice can actually shape outcomes in the community&#8230;&#8221;— Kianni 
What’s next?
Building on these insights, Anna, Kianni, and the YAB are currently co-designing an upcoming national webinar and publishing a Youth Advisory Board Paper detailing their key recommendations for the youth employment sector.

Question 5

Meet the Youth Advisory Board: Sharna from Warnambool-Moyne

Accepted Answer

What was your first ever job?
Working retail at a bakery.
How did you go from there to here?
I was guided through school to pursue a career in the arts because I excelled in that area. I studied, applied for an internship and continue to undergo professional development exercises to better my work.
What&#8217;s something different about your local community?
We are an incredible crossroads. Warrnambool has city, country, farming and ocean to offer. Job opportunities in trades, the arts, retail, healthcare, hospitality. I think it wouldn’t matter what you wanted to do, you could find a job that is either pursuing your career or is a stepping stone to gain experience in the right direction.
What are you working on right now?
I am working on a documentary that captures the lives of those affected in the 2026 January Skipton, Carrnaballac, Streatham fires.
What&#8217;s a tip for someone trying to do what you&#8217;re doing?
Be sure to be inquisitive, find unconventional ways to practice your skill and get really good at failing. To achieve something you haven&#8217;t achieved before you have to do something you haven&#8217;t done before.
What do you want to learn next?
I want to learn more about how to be financially literate, I don&#8217;t want to have to rely on anyone financially.
About Sharna
Sharna Rogers is a dynamic journalist, presenter, and passionate advocate for regional storytelling. As Fitzmedia’s Southwest local news reporter, she delivers breaking news and community stories three nights a week, reaching millions across the region.
Beyond the newsroom, Sharna has been a dedicated champion for live music in regional Victoria through her work with FReeZA, running workshops, emceeing events, and freelancing in videography and photography. She has also hosted her own radio show and remains deeply involved in community initiatives, driven by a passion for storytelling and engagement.
With a love for new experiences and a commitment to making every moment count, Sharna brings energy, professionalism, and enthusiasm to every stage she steps onto.

Question 6

‘Hip, hip, YAB-AAAAY!’ Celebrating one year of the NYEB Youth Advisory Board

Accepted Answer

Supporting the YAB also provides an opportunity for the NYEB to build its knowledge on how to partner meaningfully with young people through shared power, leadership, and reflection.
Reflecting on our first year, here are three key things we have learnt about facilitating meaningful youth leadership: 
1. When young people own and lead projects, depth of engagement increases.
Youth Advisory structures are often restricted to feedback roles, aimed at commenting on work that has already been designed. We wanted to move beyond basic consultation and toward shared leadership and ownership of both the YAB and the NYEB itself.
The first year of the YAB was deliberately scaffolded to support this leadership, build the YAB members’ transferrable skills, and provide real opportunities for the YAB members to apply those skills to lead and direct the YAB into the future.
This included:

Focusing early meetings on building trust, safety, and core confidence
Setting common and individual goals at the inception of the YAB, with check-ins at each subsequent meeting
Structuring meetings and facilitation in a way that built up to YAB members designing agendas and facilitating meetings themselves
Gradually transitioning responsibilities to the YAB over time

This approach of transferring ownership over the YAB to young people has led to stronger engagement and depth of conversation and has built members’ skills to think strategically and create opportunities for the NYEB, beyond an advisory position. 
																														
2. Systems thinking elevates lived experience

The NYEB is a project aimed at shifting local and national systems that hinder youth employment. A key focus of the YAB is to leverage their lived experience to identify and advise on barriers and opportunities across the systems impacting youth employment.   
We spent time building the capacity of YAB members to understand the youth employment ecosystem and how their personal experiences related to the wider system. When members mapped out the broader youth employment landscape, they were able to situate their personal experiences within broader trends, highlight systemic flaws, and advocate for strategic, long-term solutions. This same thinking has helped members design several recommendations for the community and youth employment sector, which will be released in a paper in late 2026.
Anna, Youth Advisory Board Member from Eurobodalla, reflects on this:
“The perspective I&#8217;ve gained from being on this board is that the difficulties young people I know are facing are not in isolation, they are they are the product of issues in greater systems, that are failing young people all around Australia.”
																														
3.	Inclusive facilitation is an ongoing learning and practice
Our eight YAB members represent diverse ages, regional locations, cultural backgrounds, and lived experiences across Australia.
We apply inclusive and accessible principles into every step of the meeting preparation, structure, and facilitation of the Youth Advisory Board. Bringing together such varied perspectives means there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to engagement and it’s crucial that all members can participate safely and confidently so that they can meaningfully engage and contribute their diverse perspectives.
Here’s how we have applied those principles:

“What to expect” agendas: Prior to every board meeting, we provide &#8220;agendas, so members can digest information at their own pace and come prepared. This includes a short video explainer of the meeting purpose and agenda, providing background context, an overview of planned facilitation and highlighting where energy and decision-making will be focused. We also highlight what could be useful to think about before the meeting.
Adaptable meeting flows: We have abandoned rigid agendas, instead prioritising productiveconversation. If a topic needs more time we have agreed as a group to adjust theagenda through explicit conversation and group agreement.
Varied modes of contribution: Recognising that not everyone processes or shares information the same way, we embed varied modes of contribution, combining live verbal discussion, interactive digital tools, written feedback and non-verbal options, from showing thumbs up or down on camera to text messages and chat reactions

Checking in: We regularly ask for feedback and refine the facilitation approach during meetings to ensure every voice was genuinely heard, valued, and reflected in the work of the YAB. To support different engagement styles, we also vary our delivery, giving options for group discussions, breakout rooms, Menti polls or visual slides based on what the group needs.

Chloe, YAB member from Frankston-Mornington Peninsula, reflected on this:
“One skill that I’ve gained is the ability to ensure everyone is heard. Becoming attuned to how each of my fellow board members best expresses their experiences is something that will stick with me. Everyone’s perspective matters and sometimes people just need a different way to communicate it.”
What’s next?
Our YAB meets monthly, currently we’re working on producing a paper and webinar to be released late 2026. Watch this space for more updates!

Question 7

Skills and Training Reference Group - June update

Accepted Answer

It was great to have some new faces to bring representation for more communities, with Julie from Hume and Gianfranco from Frankston Mornington Peninsula attending their first meeting.
Key priorities from June STRG to address entrenched challenges that influence young people’s skills and training pathways, included:

Employment Services Reform announcement and implication for skills and training: Dr Nicole Bieske, BSL’s Director of Research, Policy and Advocacy provided a reflection on the recent announcement, and the important role both employers and the VET system play to strengthen the connection between skills and training system and young job seekers.

Enhancing earn-while-you-learn models and delivery: The STRG highlighted that strengthening earn-while-you-learn (EWYL) models require a greater investment in employer capabilities and workplace mentorship to improve delivery of EWYL, while ensuring appropriate funding to support learner and workforce outcomes. The STRG noted successful participation requires the learner to have adequate income, social capital, and system knowledge, as ongoing system siloing continues to hinder EWYL models. The STRG also identified an opportunity for lessons from the NYEB’s many EYWL pilots to contribute to ongoing discussions surrounding VET qualifications reform. STRG supported the formalisation of stackable credentials as part of reform effort, however noted the importance of industry support for this approach.

Strengthening the role VET in schools plays to secure school-to-work transitions: The STRG highlighted the opportunity to increase the status of VET is schools among secondary education staff, and to more closely align outcomes with local workforce needs. The STRG identified that targeted investment in resources, networks and capability building, may these strengthen school to work transitions for young people.

Question 8

Postcard from Hume: Inside the Hume Youth Summit

Accepted Answer

Collaborating and identifying a need in the Hume community
The Hume CIC identified multiple youth committees within Hume and wanted to bring them together to collaborate. In partnership with Hume Youth Services, they formed the Youth Committee Community of Practice (CoP). Over the past year, this has consisted of Hume Youth Services, Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL), Open Door, Banksia Gardens Community Services, Arabic Welfare and headspace.
Hume Youth Services’ Youth Innovation Committee (YIC) led the planning and delivery of the Works In Progress Youth Summit with input from Brotherhood of St Laurence, headspace and Open Door at the Youth Committee CoP meetings.
YIC members identified a need within their community: lots of young people don’t know about alternative pathways to university, because, ironically, there is simply too much information being delivered through too many similar events, creating confusion and making it difficult for young people and families to engage effectively.
The YIC then set priorities and designed activities that would be relevant to young people in Hume. The Youth Committee CoP met monthly to discuss planning and determine if BSL or headspace committee members had any other ideas.
 
Putting youth voice at the centre
During the design phase, young people reflected that while most expos they had attended were for young people, they could see that young people weren’t involved in running it. They decided that it was important for information to be relatable and to hear from different lived experiences throughout the event.
Created by young people, with support from Youth Services staff, for young people, the summit gave attendees the chance to connect with employers, support services and education pathways, while thinking about what their future careers could look like.
YIC members knew from experience that having an uncertain pathway can be challenging in many areas of a young person’s life, so they outlined the themes of the event to be more holistic, from branding on self-advocacy, stress management and self-care.
To make sure youth voice was at the centre of every conversation, all presenters, panel guests and workshop facilitators were under the age of 30.
A panel discussion featured four young people from very different walks of life. Each panellist shared their unique journey and spoke about what led them to their chosen pathway, offering valuable insights and inspiration to everyone in attendance.
Atena, a Youth Advisor at BSL’s Hume Thrive Hub, said she had a great experience as a facilitator and emcee on the day. “We didn&#8217;t follow the script word-for-word. There&#8217;s a difference between simply reading from a page and using the script as a guide or backup when needed.
We got a few laughs, giggles, and &#8220;oohhs&#8221; from the audience, which made the whole event feel more enjoyable. I believe this really helped the audience connect with us and engage with the whole event.”

Panel
Stalls
Baristas who had completed free accredited training facilitated by Hume Youth Services served free coffees and non-alcoholic beverages to attendees throughout the day, getting more hands-on workplace experience.
A relaxed environment created a space for rich engagement with organisations at interactive stalls, allowing young people to explore opportunities and ask questions. The workshops were vibrant and smaller groups created space for meaningful conversations.            
“It was fantastic to see young people actively engaging, asking questions, and learning about the different pathways and supports available to them.” – Senior Youth Advisor & Development Coach 
What young people want government to know about finding work 
																														
Nansi Khayat (pictured, left) who is a member of the Hume Community Investment Committee and NYEB Youth Advisory Board, lead an activity asking young people attending &#8220;What advice would you give to the government about helping young people to find jobs?&#8221;
Attendees voted on the advice they agreed with, highlighting common barriers and opportunities for the government to understand a young person’s journey to employment. 
The themes they voted for most were:

&#8220;There should be access to free advice and guidance.&#8221;
&#8220;You should be connected to work without needing fluent English.&#8221;
&#8220;Putting together a one stop shop website that has info for young people about jobs and training.&#8221;
&#8220;Public transport should be easy, cheap and reliable to get to work.&#8221;

Nansi got as much out of attending other workshops as she did from running one: “I attended the workshop with the Australian School of Entrepreneurship in the afternoon, learnt a lot and it was a very powerful and inspiring workshop.”
Building on the momentum
Feedback from participants will play an important role in guiding the Youth Committee Community of Practice (CoP) when they plan future youth-led initiatives.
The Hume Community Investment Committee collected advocacy messages from young people that will be used to plan for future CIC initiatives to improve opportunities for young people within Hume.
“I’m excited to see more youth-led activities and opportunities delivered in the future, building on the success of this event and continuing to support young people in our community.” &#8211; Senior Youth Advisor & Development Coach

Question 9

Meet the Youth Advisory Board: Chloe from Frankston-Mornington Peninsula

Accepted Answer

What was your first ever job?
My first ever job was a volunteer position at an Op Shop, following that I got my first paid position in retail at Target where I worked for 3 and a half years!
How did you go from there to here?
While working in retail I learned a lot about myself which lead me to lived experience advocacy. I already had a keen interest in humans and make things better as I had completed a Bachelors degree in both psychological science and criminology. So over the last 2 years I have done a lot of work in both the mental health and disability sectors to advocate and inform change as a young person. I was a youth advisor for the NCED’s inclusive pathways to work program which lead me to become even more interested in the systemic issues young people face in gaining and keeping meaningful employment.
What&#8217;s something different about your local community?
I think the inclusivity is really a growing thing in my community such as the presence of Sunflower lanyards at the different shopping centres. Frankston also has a thriving arts community with the Arts Centre and I think that’s really cool as someone who values art and theatre. One of my favourite things about my community too is the local library and the services connected for young people. I find that it is a super important pillar in the community for people to come together.
What are you working on right now?
At the moment I am working with as a youth advisor on the YAB for the NYEB here at BSL, but also at an organisation called Satellite Foundation. We are creating and about to launch some resources we’ve cocreated for young people who have family members with mental health challenges and/or identify as young carers. I am also growing my presence online in the theatre community and aim to extend my advocacy to the arts sector which is currently struggling. 
What&#8217;s a tip for someone trying to do what you&#8217;re doing?
Look for opportunities! Sign up for mailing lists for youth advocacy programs etc. Apply to any no matter how short-term they are. The more you do, the more connections you make! Any opportunity has the ability to open up doors to so many others, so don’t miss out just because it seems small. If you’re interested in advocacy just go for it and trust your voice.
What do you want to learn next?
I want to learn how to use both facts and experience to inform policy. Research, policy and advocacy are super interesting to me and I think are a really important component for change. I’m excited to develop my knowledge and be able to confidently speak on all the issues I am passionate about.		
About Chloe 
Chloe Sumner is currently working as a youth advisor at both the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Satellite Foundation. Being a youth advisor is an important role as she believes that you cannot make decisions and change for young people without centring them in the conversation. Chloe has two Bachelors degrees in Psychological Science and Criminology and has done quite a bit of advocacy work in both the mental health and disability sectors. In the past year Chloe was a youth advisor for the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s National Collaboration on Employment and Disability with the Inclusive Pathways to Work program. She helped to inform decisions and create resources to improve accessibility and inclusion. Outside of work Chloe is a big believer in indulging in whatever brings you joy. She loves Taylor Swift, musical theatre and all sorts of tv shows and movies. Reading is one her main passions and you will often find her lost in a book. Chloe is excited to be joining the National Youth Employment Body Youth Advisory Board and looks forward to working with the team to move towards change.

Question 10

“Building Pathways, Not Programs - A Systems Approach to Youth Employment” at Social Impact Summit

Accepted Answer

The NYEB team was invited to collaborate with Creating Chances to bring a practical, place-based systems perspective to the Social Impact Summit. The session invited attendees to reflect on how, in a sector often trapped in shorter program-based funding cycles, we can shift to a systems thinking approach that allows us to work in a more impactful way. The Creating Chances team explained their model for supporting a young person from primary school all the way through to accredited employment.
Anna set the scene by explaining that a common experience for young people not engaged in employment, education or training: they are often facing multiple barriers which are interconnected to the wider systems. When we apply systems thinking and add place-based context, we can shift our practice, use that as data and evidence and ultimately build advocacy messaging, which can shift policy.
Anamlee and Anna examples of how NYEB alliance members had successfully demonstrated that through the NYEB model, the work of CICs and the recent Employment Service System Reform.
This introduction led into an interactive workshop where participants worked through real-world examples of the employment barriers young people face. Together, they explored potential responses, with facilitators drawing connections between participants&#8217; ideas and the key elements of systems change. The activity encouraged attendees to think beyond program-level solutions and consider how they could influence the broader systems shaping young people&#8217;s employment outcomes.
Reflecting on the experience, Anna she is “most proud of speaking at the Social Impact Summit […] Representing an organisation doing work I believe in, and having our insight valued among so many field experts, meant a lot.”
Anna is excited to apply her experience speaking on systems thinking and change to an advocacy project the Youth Advisory Board are currently developing, creating a webinar and resource launching in late 2026.

Question 11

Building a Youth-Focused Partnership in Hume

Accepted Answer

The City of Hume, located in the north-west of Melbourne, is characterised by strong community connections and a local council that is embedded in a range of groups that support its residents with employment, education and training. As number of collaborative networks already existed in the region, including the Hume Jobs and Skills Taskforce, early discussions between BSL and the council were essential to ensure alignment with existing efforts and to avoid duplication. Key to these conversations was a respect for the local area and an understanding that existing models couldn’t just be replicated but instead needed to complement and connect what was already happening in place.
Building alignment and trust
Through open and respectful dialogue, BSL and the council worked together to identify gaps in the existing landscape of networks. They recognised that a CIC focusing specifically on youth employment could complement existing efforts rather than compete with them. The CIC was formed as a youth-specific, grassroots working group of the existing Jobs and Skills Taskforce, feeding into broader employment policy conversations in Hume. By clearly defining its focus, the CIC was able to establish its unique role within the broader system.
Regular feedback between the CIC and the Hume Jobs and Skills Taskforce strengthened system connections, ensuring new initiatives were informed by and contributed to existing strategies. Council’s existing role as an intermediary between employers and employment services helped shape the CIC’s collaborative approach to employer engagement. Rather than duplicating employer outreach, BSL and Hume City Council co-designed a partnership model that built on the council’s networks and capacity: an ‘employment facilitator’ role is now shared between both organisations.
Collaboration in practice
This partnership evolved into a co-leadership model, with both organisations sharing responsibility for the CIC’s coordination. The council’s enduring role in the community positioned it as a sustainable anchor for the CIC beyond the TtW program. While there were initial challenges in navigating roles and responsibilities, transparency, open communication and mutual trust became defining features of the partnership. Both organisations’ commitment to the national policy conversation around youth employment, through its connection to the NYEB, and their willingness to adapt to new ideas reflected a shared commitment to community-led problem solving.
The co-leads of the Hume CIC share their tips for an enduring and active CIC in the NYEB Community Investment Committee Practice Guide.

Question 12

Postcard from Frankston Mornington Peninsula: where the whole CIC is pitching in

Accepted Answer

The FMPYEB surveyed local parents and carers through schools, social networks, youth employment services, and the Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN). A clear message emerged: people didn’t know where to start, and information was fragmented.
When the LLEN began developing a new website, the FMPYEB chose not to create another resource. Instead, they collaborated to consolidate their knowledge into a single, central source of information—responding directly to the community’s need for one clear, accessible point of truth.
The FMPYEB’s employer capability working group also surveyed employers and discovered that they were facing similar challenges in accessing information about employing young people. So the LLEN and FMPYEB extended the website to include an employer section too.
Working together, members of the FMPYEB and the LLEN ensured the website was designed to genuinely engage young people, parents, carers, and employers. This collaborative approach has resulted in a resource that reflects the needs of our community and strengthens the support available to local families and businesses.
Everyone on the FMPYEB was invested in making it a success.
The FMP Pathways website officially launched last month.

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