Preparing young people for the future of work

I am pleased to announce the Indo-Pacific winners of the Solve challenge to help disadvantaged young people prepare for technological disruption and the workforce of the future.

At a live pitch event in New York, I spoke of the Australian Government's innovationXchange partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Australian software company Atlassian on the Solve challenge Youth & the Workforce of the Future.

The 21st century has been marked by rapid advances in technological innovation. Today's generation of young people face a world where nearly half of jobs globally are at risk of becoming obsolete over coming decades due to automation and technological advancement. The Solve challenge sought innovations to help young people prepare for disruption and seize opportunities created by new technology.

The winning innovations will test new methods and technologies to support young people, including online platforms for teaching entrepreneurship skills, new smartphone apps for video tutoring, and apps that support people in informal employment, especially women and girls, transition into formal sector employment.

The winners, selected from a field of 183 applicants, will receive up to $70,000 to develop their ideas to help young people in the Indo-Pacific.

During my visit to New York for Leaders Week of the UN General Assembly, I will highlight the Government's commitment to innovation, including with Michael Bloomberg at his Global Business Forum Leaders' Breakfast.