New Thinking for a New Workforce

The education and care sector is changing rapidly. With rising demand, workforce shortages, and high turnover, many providers are asking: how do we attract and keep the right people? 

The answer isn’t more of the same; it’s fresh thinking for a new workforce. 

That’s exactly what we explored in a recent 30-minute Executive Briefing featuring Y Careers’ founding Executive Director, Amaresh Devanesen (Amo). 

He discussed why hiring in aged care, disability, early learning and outside of school hours care needs a more human, adaptable approach, one designed for the next generation. With Gen Z entering the workforce in new ways, now is the time to rethink recruitment, support, and career development.

The key message?

If you want a future-ready workforce, start by investing in young people today.

From Purpose to Performance: Rethinking the Workforce Model

Amo didn’t shy away from the challenges. Employers are struggling to find people with the right values, skills, and resilience, and turnover only makes it harder.

But young people represent a huge opportunity. With the right training, structure, and support, Gen Z is bringing heart, energy, and purpose to the education and care sector.
The Y Careers model breaks down barriers by blending accredited training, real-world experience, and tailored support.

“It’s not about dropping in a young person and walking away. It’s about building a supported career pathway and walking alongside both the young person and the employer.”

Key Takeaways

In just 30 minutes, Amo shared practical insights for employers tackling workforce challenges and answered questions that highlighted how Y Careers approaches these issues:
Hiring value-driven young people leads to better retention.
Amo explained that success comes from finding candidates with the right mindset and attitude, not just skills. The recruitment process is designed to be agile and value-based, moving away from traditional cold interviews and rigid forms. Instead, Y Careers looks for heart, potential, and cultural fit, because those qualities lead to long-term commitment and growth.

Supported young people reduce onboarding time and burnout. 

Y Careers provides a blended support model that combines face-to-face guidance with digital touchpoints, ensuring ongoing connection and assistance. For young people who aren’t yet confident with technology, we offer dedicated training and micro-credential programs to build their digital skills and boost their confidence. This multi-layered support helps each young person feel equipped and valued, so they don’t just start a job—they grow a career with steady guidance every step of the way.

Traditional hiring often misses high-potential candidates who need the right opportunity.

Many young people don’t initially understand what working in the education and care sector involves. Y Careers flips the traditional hiring model on its head by assessing beyond just skills, focusing on mindset and potential. Communication methods like phone calls and texts help meet young people where they are, making the process more accessible and less daunting.

Employers can shape new staff to their culture without the admin burden.

Amo highlighted that Y Careers embeds employer culture and priorities into the training journey. Young people learn on-site, with your team, allowing employers to shape staff development hands-on while Y Careers manages the administrative, compliance, and coaching aspects.

Turning the Traditional Model on Its Head

Amo summed it up best: “We’re not here to make young people fit into broken systems. We’re redesigning the system to work for them and for you.”

Y Careers isn’t just solving today’s hiring problems. They’re building a sustainable talent pipeline with the right training, mindset, and wraparound support to help young people thrive and stay long-term.

Let’s Build the Workforce of the Future Together

Ready to rethink your workforce strategy? Contact the Y Careers team at [email protected] to learn how we can support you.

Watch the recording here and discover the opportunities young people can bring to your organisation.