Applications are open now for scholarships of up to $5,000 for young Australians looking to upskill or retrain to secure work.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said the Commonwealth Scholarships Program for Young Australians provides an opportunity for young people in the Hervey Bay region to gain Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications across a range of in-demand occupations.

“We want to support young Australians to enter the vocational education and training sector which will help to create strong pathways to jobs in areas of skills needs and real outcomes,” Mr Pitt said.

“These scholarships will target occupations identified in projected growth industries and occupations identified as in-demand, including aged or disability carer and child care in 10 regional locations, including the Maryborough region which encompasses Hervey Bay.”

Applications are sought from people who are not in full-time work, who are aged 15 to 24 years or people who have left the Australian Defence Force in the past two years.

Priority will also be given to Indigenous young Australians, young Australians living with disability and young Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The Commonwealth Scholarships Program for Young Australians is part of the Australian Government’s $585 million Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow package.

It will award around 400 young Australians from 10 regional locations with high youth unemployment up to $5,000 a year to study a qualification and an additional $3,000 to complete an internship.

For more information and eligibility requirements please visit: https://www.employment.gov.au/commonwealth-scholarships-program-young-australians

To apply visit: https://www.busyatwork.com.au/scholarship-program-for-young-australians/

List of occupations: https://www.busyatwork.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Eligible-occupations-List-1.pdf