SCHOOL PILOT PROJECTS TO IMPROVE CAREER PATHWAYS FOR NSW STUDENTS

High schools in South West Sydney and on the North Coast will be the first in NSW to participate in an innovative $10 million new pilot program that will transform the way students and parents think about career pathways.

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said 10 different initiatives grouped under the Educational Pathways Pilot Program will be trialled initially in schools in areas that are experiencing higher levels of youth unemployment.

"The program is aimed at making sure students pick the subjects at school that will put them on the right career pathway," Mr Lee said.

"For some that may mean vocational education and training (VET) subjects including apprenticeships while for others it will be university.

"At the heart of these pilot initiatives is the Government's desire to improve career advice, increase school-based apprenticeships and traineeships and help our most disadvantaged and disengaged students further their education," Mr Lee said.

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the program will help not just students but whole communities.

"The skills offered through Pathways are vital to our society. I want to ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn and prepare for their next stage of life no matter what career they are interested in," Ms Mitchell said.

"Through this program, we're not only helping young people find a suitable pathway into further education and training to maximise their chances of employment but also building up skills in regional areas to keep our economy growing."

The NSW Government is engaging with industry on some of the pilot programs, including one that involves a partnership with the Master Builders Association to promote apprenticeship and traineeship pathways to university.

"Another pilot will see the creation of a specialist Careers Immersion Team that will collaborate with local industry and employers, develop industry partnerships with local schools and broker training and job opportunities for students," Mr Lee said.

"The team will work closely with officers from the Regional Industry Education Program (RIEP) and NSW Training Awards Ambassadors to inspire students and connect them to local industry."

Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women Bronnie Taylor applauded the Educational Pilot Pathways initiative saying young people need support to find suitable pathways into work, particularly in drought-affected regions.

"Having a job is one of the best ways to boost self-esteem and create opportunity; we can't allow youth who are disengaged from school to fall through the cracks," Mrs Taylor said.