The South Australian Government has put up $2 million for 57 regional youth local government traineeships.

The State Government is establishing the new program to help young people living in regional areas to enter the workforce full time with a two year traineeship in local government.

Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock says the Regional Youth Traineeship Program will offer $14,500 a year to 57 regional governance bodies across the State towards the cost of provide entry level employment for a trainee for two years.

“This will include all regional councils, Aboriginal community councils and the Outback Communities Authority,” Mr Brock said.

“The traineeships are aimed at young people aged between 17 and 24 living in our regions who are unemployed or don’t have a full time job.

“Trainees will benefit from tailored training and work plans, so that when they’ve completed their two year traineeship they’ll be ready to take advantage of further employment opportunities.

“This program has also been designed to encourage councils to continue employing these trainees after those two funded years of training.

“The Local Government Association will deliver the program through the State Government’s $10 million Jobs Accelerator Fund,” Mr Brock said.

Youth Minister Zoe Bettison said the trainee opportunities would be available in a range of employment skills, including areas such as admin services, IT, web development, accounting, horticulture, parks and gardens management and welding and mechanical services.

“The program will give young people in the regions the opportunity to enter the workforce fulltime, work in their areas of interest for two years and come out job-ready with a whole new range of new skills.”

Local Government Association President Dave Burgess said the program represented a terrific opportunity for the regions.

“Early discussions with councils around the concept of a regional youth traineeship program indicated significant interest and enthusiasm to participate,” Mr Burgess said.