About 800 young jobseekers supported by Joblink Plus in the Orana and Far West will be eligible to participate in a new youth employment package, the service reports as it welcomes the federal budget measure.
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The government's new jobs offer unveiled on Tuesday night includes $840 million for an internship-focused youth employment package across four years, to start from April next year.
Joblink Plus Dubbo branch business manager Kerrard Simpson said it had for some time called for action because of the "risk of losing a generation of young people to unemployment" and the Coalition had answered that call.
He said combined with other budget measures it also placed business in a "pretty good position to consider putting on a local young person instead of a tourist or a backpacker".
ABS data analysed by anti-poverty organisation the Brotherhood of St Laurence in March showed youth unemployment was at 16 per cent in the Far West and Orana region, including Bourke, Cobar, Broken Hill, Dubbo and Lightning Ridge.
Part of the package includes a Youth Jobs PaTH program (standing for Prepare-Trial-Hire), which encourages businesses to provide training, internships and employment for young people.
The program has received some criticism from unions but support from a number of groups that focus on getting people aged in their teens and twenties into work.
"The Youth Jobs PaTH is the continuation of a theme from the Coalition government to listen to what employers want when they hire a young person, and that's our job too, so Joblink Plus welcomes the initiative," Mr Simpson said.
"Joblink Plus in Dubbo, Wellington, Broken Hill - all across Orana - hears from local business every day that they will hire young people who want to work and have a good attitude.
"We'll use this initiative to keep working with young people to get them ready to work, show them the benefits of having a job, and helping them tap into their strengths to get motivated for work."
Mr Simpson also highlighted other aspects of the budget set to boost jobs and growth.
"Combined with a record-low interest rate of 1.75 per cent, and positive business measures like the expansion of the instant asset write off, if this budget passes small business should be in a pretty good position to consider putting on a local young person instead of a tourist or a backpacker," he said.
"Joblink Plus will help make the new incentives work for Dubbo businesses."
Skillset Workforce regional manager Luke Cameron said they welcomed all measures that support young people into training and employment. "We hope that the combination of employability skills training, incentives for both businesses and job seekers to undertake internships and the Youth Bonus Wage Subsidy will stimulate employment opportunities in the region.
"We await the detail for a more in depth response, but look forward to continuing to work with businesses in providing opportunities for job seekers."
