The Victorian Government is supporting 300 young Victorians into apprenticeships and traineeships as part of its $500 million Working for Victoria Fund.

Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford said the new apprentices and trainees, aged between 15 and 24, will be placed with public sector employers across the state including local councils, hospitals, schools, TAFEs and water authorities.

As part of the drive, the Government has joined with the Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) to increase the participation rate of young people in the workforce while assisting communities to meet future skill and employment needs.

The network will coordinate 26 group training organisations to place young people into roles at government hubs in regional centres such as Ballarat and Geelong and state government departments and agencies including WorkSafe Victoria, Victorian Regional Channels Authority and Ambulance Victoria.

Twelve-month opportunities will be offered in business administration, community services, sport and recreation, landscape gardening and building and maintenance with a focus on providing opportunities for 2020 school leavers and unemployed young people seeking their first role, including those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Young people are some of the worst impacted during economic downturns with people under 30 more likely to lose their job and then take longer to find another job. The pandemic has markedly affected the hospitality and the retail industries where young casual workers have often been the first to lose work.

Since its launch in April, Working for Victoria has created more than 10,000 jobs for people who have lost their jobs including those that have been impacted by coronavirus, while delivering a valuable community service.

Working for Victoria also provides a job-matching service, bringing together people looking for work and businesses looking to fill positions.

Jobseekers including those interested in the apprenticeships and traineeships initiative can register for Working for Victoria at vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.