Pathways to Employment Day: Driving real youth employment opportunities

NexGen Youth Advisory Group focuses on creating youth employment pathways

At Mai-Wel, we believe real change starts with listening. In 2024, our NexGen Youth Advisory Group told us clearly: “We want more chances to meet employers, ask questions, and explore careers in a way that feels safe and real.”

Inspired by their feedback, we proudly launched our Pathways to Employment Day.

 

Connecting young people with real opportunities

On 11 June 2025, we held our first Pathways to Employment Day at Mai-Wel, Maitland. The day brought together a diverse mix of employers, training providers, and educators to connect with young people in a relaxed and engaging space.

Designed entirely around the ideas and needs of our participants, the day provided an inclusive environment where young people could meet face-to-face with professionals from a range of industries, ask questions, and gain a clear, confident understanding of their pathways into work and study.

 

Who got involved?

Far from a traditional career expo, the event focused on meaningful interactions, with every organisation delivering short, insightful presentations before moving to one-on-one breakout chats.

• ZEAL Futures
• Australian Defence Force
• University of Newcastle
• Newcastle Rescue and Consultancy
• ATWEA College
• EFFF Lifestyle Coaching
• Matthews Cleaning Co.
• Resourceful Living
• Mai-Wel’s HR Team

These initial presentations gave participants valuable insight into a variety of industries, from defence and health to administration, cleaning, education, and life coaching. But the real impact came from the personalised conversations that followed.

These smaller, informal discussions gave young people the chance to express their interests and gain targeted advice, all in a setting that felt supportive and pressure-free.

 

Real and immediate youth employment outcomes

The outcomes from the day were immediate and impactful. Matthews Cleaning Co. conducted eight on-the-spot interviews with participants from across Mai-Wel’s programs, including Disability Employment Services (DES), Transition to Work, and Parent Pathways. These interviews marked the start of real opportunities, with placements actively being considered as a result of those conversations.

The University of Newcastle spoke directly with ten participants, sparking interest in pathways many hadn’t previously considered. One participant reflected, “I didn’t realise the uni had creative writing. I didn’t think I could go to uni, but now I’m seriously thinking about enrolling.”

ZEAL Futures engaged deeply with multiple young people, discussing active apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities across fields such as electrical, administration, parks and gardens, and supply chain operations. These conversations helped participants uncover clear and realistic steps toward career goals.

Even organisations who couldn’t attend in person played a role. Resourceful Living pre-screened two participants ahead of the event for upcoming job opportunities.

Newcastle Rescue and Consultancy began collaborating with Mai-Wel to develop three exclusive short courses designed to equip participants with practical, ticketed qualifications. These courses will directly support entry into a variety of industries.

EFFF Lifestyle Coaching committed to delivering tailored workshops focused on job-seeking strategies, anxiety management, and general wellbeing, supports that are vital for young people preparing to enter or return to the workforce.

Throughout the day, it became clear that when young people are given the space to ask questions, explore options, and be heard, they respond with enthusiasm, curiosity, and growing self-belief. Participants described the event as empowering and encouraging, with many saying it was the first time they had felt truly listened to in a career-related setting.

 

Just the beginning

Pathways to Employment Day was a model for how youth-led design can create meaningful change. By listening to young people and creating experiences around their needs, we can unlock new possibilities and help them take real steps toward brighter futures.

And this is just the beginning.

We are incredibly grateful to all the organisations who supported the day, giving their time and expertise to help our participants take the next steps in their journeys. Most importantly, we thank the young people whose ideas and feedback shaped every part of this experience.

Stay tuned as we continue working with NexGen and our wider community to create even more opportunities.