Mission Australia welcomes the Inquiry into successful youth transitions. Any efforts to enhance the successful transition of disadvantaged young people need to include integrated and holistic responses (addressing not only educational but other related needs) as well as provide opportunities to re-engage with education and training in flexible ways as required.

Mission Australia would urge that the Inquiry consider an integrated framework such as that provided by Mission Australia’s Youth Employment Strategy in its deliberations on ‘successful’ transitions. Such a framework identifies not only the range of issues which are fundamental to ensuring such a transition but also provides a way of understanding the diversity of young people and where they may ‘sit’ along the transition pathway. Mission Australia would also urge that consideration be given to increased policy and programmatic support for training initiatives and transitional labour market programs which have been shown to be effective in enhancing the transitions of young people at risk of making poor transitions.