weekender the western
Printed on 100% recycled paper
FRI 18 JUL 2014 • Issue 1162
ARB Open Day!
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
Business Advice, tips and profiles on the best local businesses p.28-29
Please give us a job Meet the young locals who want to work but keep getting rejected CASSANDRA O’CONNOR
Special feature inside today p.34-39
Swinging for a cause p.20
Teen killed in crash Tragedy on Andrews Road p.3
@cassandra_o
T
imes are tough according to Penrith’s younger job seekers, who are finding that a lack of experience is stopping them from entering the workforce. Paige Carter is 20-years-old and has gone back to studying because she hasn’t been able to find work. “I worked at McDonald’s through high school, that was my last job in 2009,” she said. “I must have applied for over 1,000 jobs now but no-one will hire me because I don’t have the years of experience they say they are after.” Ms Carter has completed one year of animal studies with TAFE and is now preparing to graduate as a veterinary nurse with a Certificate 4 qualification in November. But even as she approaches the end of her studies, finding a job in her chosen field is still difficult. “Every place I have applied they want three years of experience as a minimum, there’s no opportunities at the entry level,” Ms Carter said. 19-year-old Lauren Murphy agrees. “I am studying through online university and so am available to work full-time. I have years of experience in hospitality but I cannot find work anywhere,” she said. “I want to work in Penrith, but I have applied for over 100 jobs and I keep getting turned away.” Ms Murphy is studying to be a social worker, but cannot gain placements in her chosen field until next year.
Story continues on » p. 6
Paige Carter says she’s struggling to find work. Photo: Melinda Jane
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