Evaluation of the Australian Wage Subsidy Special Youth ...

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2.2.3 SYETP operation
Earlier references to SYETP explained it in various ways. SYETP was initially described
as a training programme that was part of the National Employment and Training System
(NEAT 25 ), in a 1980 information pamphlet for CES services and Manpower Programmes
(DEYA (1980)). In 1982 SYETP was listed amongst manpower programmes as a work
experience programme, which was part of the Youth Training Programmes, with the
following remit:
“The work experience programme helps employers (both private and
Commonwealth) take on young people who have found it difficult to get
stable employment because they lack the required experience and
qualifications by providing a subsidy for their employment.” (Paterson (1982)
Appendix 1, p3).
However, research documenting the programmes pointed out that the SYETP was
essentially a wage subsidy to employers to take on unemployed young people (BLMR
(1983): 2). In this same research, SYETP was also defined as a ‘work experience
programme’. Yet the real emphasis was never on training. In 1984 programme conditions
for employers included the development of a training plan for the new employee,
however this seems the greatest extent of training under SYETP. Smith (1983) pointed
out that this training plan could cover normal orientation for new employees. Thus it was
a fairly straightforward employment subsidy programme with no real training provisions
attached.
In a submission to the OECD, the department in charge of administering manpower
programmes described SYETP as “…one of the major programmes designed to improve
access to and equity in the labour market”, one of two together with the job creation
programme CEP (Community Employment Programme). It was further described as
“…aimed at improving the employability of longer-term unemployed young people aged
25 An active labour market ‘umbrella’ program, NEAT consisted of a mixture of separate training and wage
subsidy programs.