8. Question No. 8—Social Development and EmploymentTIM COSTLEY (National—Ōtaki) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 8—Social Development and Employment8. TIM COSTLEY (National—Ōtaki) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What recent announcements has the Government made about supporting young people on the jobseeker benefit into work?Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Social Development and Employment): Thank you Mr Speaker. Today I announced that 2100 extra places will be available in community-led programmes in the 2024/25 financial year to help those on jobseeker benefits aged 18 to 24 shift into work as part of year one of Welfare that Works. We are helping during these challenging economic times by powering up high-performing community organisations that understand the needs of their young people. Five hundred places will be with a selection of He Poutama Rangatahi providers—Hon Carmel Sepuloni: Oh who set that up?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: National in 2017. [Interruption] We launched the programme National in 2017. And I was one of the people who launched it. SPEAKER: That's enough.Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I haven't finished. Five hundred places—I'd just like to finish that sentence. Five hundred places will be with a selection of He Poutama Rangatahi providers for young people who've been on jobseeker support for more than a year and the other 1600 places will be across a variety of community providers throughout New Zealand.Tim Costley: Why has the Government decided to increase the number of young job seekers supported by community-led programmes?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Young people who go on to jobseeker benefit under the age of 25 are currently predicted to spend nearly two decades of their lives on welfare. The coalition Government is not prepared to watch the potential of young New Zealanders being wasted in this way. Community organisations who know their young people are often the best positioned to help them overcome the challenges they face. Young New Zealanders deserve to experience the independence and opportunities that come from work which is why we are taking action to support more of them into jobs.Tim Costley: What key features of Welfare that Works will young job seekers experience in the first year?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Welfare that Works is about ensuring young job seekers get a proper needs assessment a job plan and tailored support including job coaching. Community providers will be selected based on their ability to provide these features; however of course they will look different for each local provider. We will assess what works using robust evidence to inform what happens in subsequent years of Welfare that Works. The initiative aims to prevent young people from being trapped on benefit long term which is why we are funding 500 more young job seekers to receive the high intensity services that He Poutama Rangatahi provides.Tim Costley: What else has the coalition Government done in addition to Welfare that Works to support young job seekers into work?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: The Government has already delivered a series of initiatives to support job seekers into work. We recently established a new over-the-phone case management service for 4000 young job seekers. Benefit sanctions are being fully applied to motivate job seekers to comply with their obligations to find work. We've started work seminars that job seekers must attend within two weeks of coming on to benefit and after six months. The coalition Government is very focused on helping people on jobseeker benefits experience the independence choice and opportunities that come from work.