Link and Launch supports transitions from school to work, training and further education
Research tells us that every year a number of young people who complete Year 12 are not engaged in education, employment or training in the year after they leave school.
The Queensland Department of Education has rolled out Link and Launch services on school sites to support young people who have completed Year 12 and are not in education, employment or training.
The service supports young people to navigate their options and choose a pathway that will equip them to successfully transition to study, training or work.
How the program works
The Link and Launch Coordinator is based in Morayfield and connects with young people from surrounding schools who have completed Year 12 and not transitioned to further study, training or work.
They support young people to navigate a range of post-school study, training and work options in line with their individual goals, aspirations, skills and strengths.
The Link and Launch service supports them to make independent choices that will equip them to make a successful transition. Some options young people may consider through the service include:
- Free apprenticeships for under 25s
- Fee-Free TAFE
- Skilling Queenslanders for Work programs
- Entry to university without an ATAR score
- Employment
- Federal incentives and participation programs like Transition to Work.
Eligible young people
Young people who are not in education, employment or training and who completed Year 12 in the last few years are eligible to access the service.
All eligible young people who have completed their senior studies are eligible irrespective of which school they attended.
Students currently enrolled at school are not eligible to access the service as career guidance and planning support is already provided by schools.
Accessing the service is voluntary.
Results from the service
By August 2024, more than 4100 young people had connected with the service to be supported in making successful transitions from school into work, study or training.
If you would like to hear what young people have to say about Link and Launch, check out these Link and Launch videos
Independent evaluation
The Department of Education engaged Sagacity Consulting to conduct an independent evaluation of the Link and Launch program.
Independent research reflected that 87.2% of young people were still engaged in education, training or employment 18 months after they were supported by their Link and Launch officer to make a transition.
The study ran from October 2019 to July 2022. The final report (PDF, 523KB) was handed down in late 2022.
Connect today
If you or a young person you know might benefit from this kind of support, please contact the Link and Launch service to start the conversation.
Call/SMS: 0472 838 396
Email: youthengagement@qed.qld.gov.au
Ask Link and Launch to contact you: Consent to Contact form
