HELPING YOUTH FIND THEIR FEET IN THE WORKFORCE

IN AN effort to decrease youth unemployment, Brisbane lawyers are rallying behind a new project designed to give young disadvantaged Australians a fighting chance in the workforce.

Brisbane commercial law firm Colin Biggers & Paisley (CBP) has partnered with the FM Foundation to launch the Youth Employment Project (YEP), a program targeting 14-25 year olds who struggle to overcome barriers to employment including disabilities and socio-economic challenges.

Around 13.8 per cent of young Australians are currently jobless, a statistic that CBP director of corporate responsibility Daniel Creasey (pictured) hopes to address by providing in-depth education to all YEP participants. 

"These workshops aim to provide students with an active learning environment to help broaden their horizons and expose them to the steps required to enter further education or apply for jobs," says Creasey.

A number of staff members from CBP will be sharing their own career experiences throughout the workshops which are focused on helping kids achieve their goals by learning to make the best of their unique situations.

"It will be a rewarding experience for our staff when they use their skills and expertise to help these young students gain a greater understanding of themselves and the career options available to them," says Creasey.

Daniela Ascone, director of strategy and partnerships for the FM Foundation, says CBP's corporate partnership is invaluable, as it fosters a drive to succeed and builds a solid support structure within the community.

"We are delighted to welcome the Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation as a corporate partner to help us to support disadvantaged youth to connect with business and acquire the skills they need to achieve their employment goals," says Ascone.

"Our corporate partners give back to the community and share their knowledge to enhance the experiences of disadvantaged youth so that they develop the confidence and motivation they need to succeed."