Disengaged young people will benefit from the expansion of a NSW Government program which aims to connect them with education, training and employment.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the highly successful Get Back in the Game program is being expanded to support young people in Western Sydney, South Western Sydney, the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Hunter and Central Coast.

“More than 7,000 young people have discovered areas of interest, developed career plans, and either engaged in work or training or headed back to complete their secondary school education, since the program started in 2016,” Ms Mitchell said.

“This expansion will further the program’s reach and help more young people finish school, access training and get a job.”

Seven community-based youth support organisations will deliver specialist support services to young people aged 15-19 through the program.

Get Back in the Game will focus on young people who are still at school but struggling to engage with education as well as those who have left school but are finding it difficult to make effective transitions into training or employment.

Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the program helps young people gain employability skills, identify career pathways and establish valuable connections with employers and industry.

“We want to ensure that every young person in NSW has an opportunity to reach their potential and find a job they want,” Mr Henskens said.

“When young people disengage from education, this program provides a helping hand to reconnect them with positive training and employment opportunities.”

“This program is a win-win – it will support vulnerable young people while benefiting employers across a range of industries who are crying out for skilled workers.”

More information about the program which is already running across regional NSW is available online.