Earn or Learn. That's the Standard We Hold.
Employment Pathways is Authentic Steps' end-to-end employment program for young people aged
15–24. We believe every young person should be earning or learning and we do whatever it
takes to make that happen.
From still being at school and planning ahead, to dropped out and not sure where to go we meet
them where they are and walk beside them all the way to the right future for them.
Earn or Learn — Our Belief and Our Standard
At Authentic Steps, Earn or Learn is more than a motto. It's the foundation of everything we do in
Employment Pathways.
We believe that every young person regardless of their background, their schooling history, or the challenges they've faced deserves to be moving forward. Not sitting still. Not drifting. Earning an income, building skills, gaining experience, or studying toward something real.
Employment Pathways exists to make that happen. We provide the structure, the support, the real experience, and the connections that give young people a genuine pathway — not just a plan on
paper.
Earn or Learn.
Employment. Education. Training. Every young person we work with is supported and encouraged to be doing one of these things — because real growth comes from doing real things, with the right people beside you.
Wherever They're Starting From — We Start There Too.
Employment Pathways is designed for the full range of where a young person can be when it comes
to work and their future.
Still in School
Your young person is still at school but starting to think about what comes next. We help them identify a direction, explore pathways, and get skills and certifications in place before they leave so they're ahead of the game when they do.
Dropped Out of School
School wasn't working for them and that's okay. We meet them where they're at, build the confidence and skills they need, and find a pathway that suits who they are.
Finished School - Not Sure What's Next
They' ve done their time at school but don't know what they want t to do or where to start. We help them figure out the right direction and take the first real steps toward it.
Tried to Find Work and Struggled
They've applied, maybe had a few interviews, but it hasn't clicked. We dig into why, fix what needs fixing, and make sure the next application leads somewhere real.
Most Programs Get You Ready. We Get You There.
A lot of employment programs teach young people how to write a resume and leave it at that. Employment Pathways goes much further.
We combine skills coaching with real, hands-on work experience through our own in-house teams. We help young people get the industry certifications and training courses employers require. We teach the practical life skills no school class covers. We act as the go-between with employers and with our network of like-minded partner companies to make the placement work. And we walk beside every young person from day one, all the way through to being settled and confident in
the right job.
Think of it like teaching someone to ride a bike. We run alongside them at first, keeping them steady. We hold on when they need it. And gradually as their balance and confidence grow we let go a little more. Until one day they're riding on their own, and they know it.
That's what Earn or Learn looks like in practice. And that's what Employment Pathways delivers.
How the Program Works
Step 1 — Getting to Know Them
We start by understanding who your young person is their strengths, interests, challenges and what kind of work actually suits them. There's no point putting someone in a job they'll hate or that doesn't match who they are. We take the time to get this right from the very beginning.
Step 2 — Building the Skills
Through one-on-one mentoring and small group workshops, we work on everything an employer needs to see: a strong resume, a confident interview, professional communication, and the mindset that makes someone a person people want to hire and keep.
Step 3 — Real Work Experience (With the Little Things Included)
While skills are being built, young people get somewhere to immediately put them into practice. Our in-house teams provide structured, supported work experience in real working environments all under the Earn or Learn standard.
Current in-house work experience opportunities include:
⭐ Mowing & Grounds Maintenance Team — outdoor, physical work with a consistent and supportive tea
⭐ Jet Washing & Property Maintenance Team — hands-on practical work in property upkeep and presentation
But it goes beyond the work itself. We cover the things no school class teaches — the practical basics every employer expects but nobody thinks to explain:
⭐ Showing up on time, every time — and what to do if something comes up
⭐ Arriving ready for the day: clean uniform, water, lunch, the right gear
⭐ How to be a genuine team member — communicating well, pulling your weight, being someone people enjoy working alongside
⭐ How to handle conflict with a co-worker professionally, without it escalating
⭐ What good workplace behaviour looks like from day one — so it becomes second nature, not an afterthought
These are the things that make or break a young person's first job. We make sure they're not left to
figure it out alone.
Young people leave this stage with a real work history, a genuine reference, and the confidence that
only comes from actually doing it.
Step 4 — Industry Certifications & Training Courses
Many industries require specific certifications before a young person will even be considered for a role. We help identify the right licences and courses for their chosen pathway and support them through the process of completing them.
We assist with:
⭐ White Card — Construction Induction Training (required for any construction site work in Australia)
⭐ RSA — Responsible Service of Alcohol (required for bar, restaurant, café and most hospitality roles in Queensland)
⭐ RSG — Responsible Service of Gaming (required for pubs, clubs and venues with gaming machines)
⭐ Forklift Licence (LF Licence) — required for warehouse, logistics, manufacturing and man trade environments
⭐ Food Safety Certificate — required for roles involving food handling in cafes, restaurants, catering and hospitality
⭐ Barista Course — practical espresso and coffee-making training that opens doors across the entire café and hospitality industry
Arriving at an employer with these already completed shows initiative and removes one of the most
common barriers to getting hired.
Step 5 — Employer Partnerships & Advocacy
This is where Employment Pathways is genuinely different from most programs.When it's time to connect your young person with an employer, we don't hand over a resume and wish them luck. We go with them. We communicate with the employer directly — helping them
understand who this young person is, what they're capable of, and how to get the best out of them. We are the bridge between the young person and the employer, making sure both sides feel supported and set up for success.
We have built relationships with a network of like-minded companies who share our values and are
genuinely open to giving motivated young people a real opportunity. These are businesses that believe in people not just positions to fill and they understand the value of taking on a young person who has been properly prepared, supported, and advocated for.
Between our in-house teams, our employer network, and our industry connections, we are able to match young people to opportunities that are the right fit for both the young person and the employer.
Step 6 — Walking Beside Them Until They Don't Need Us
Once your young person is in a role, we don't disappear. We stay alongside them checking in, helping navigate challenges, and working with the employer where needed.
Think of it like teaching someone to ride a bike. You run alongside them at first, keeping them steady. You hold on when they need it. And gradually as their balance and confidence grow you let go a little more. Until one day they're riding on their own, and they know it.
That's the goal of Employment Pathways. Not dependence independence. A young person who is genuinely settled, confident, and earning or learning in a way that suits who they are.
Certifications & Courses That Open Doors
One of the most common reasons a young person can't get hired isn't attitude or ability it's that they don't have the certification the industry requires. We help remove that barrier.
White Card
Required for anyone entering a construction site in Australia. Opens the door to trade work, labouring, civil construction and more.
RSG - Responsible Service of Gaming
Requiredfor pubs, clubs and venues with gaming machines. Often paired with RSA for full hospitality work eligibility.
RSA - Responsible Service of Alcohol
Required for bar, restaurant, cafe and most hospitality roles in Queensland. One of the most versatile certifications a young person can hold.
Forklift Licence (LF Licence)
Required for warehouse, logistics, manufacturing and many trade environments. Highly sought-after and significantly expands employment options.
Food Safety Certificate
Required for food handling roles across cafes, restaurants, catering and hospitality. Essential for anyone entering the food and beverage industry.
Barista Course
Practical espresso and coffee-making training that opens doors across the cafe and hospitality industry - one of the most in-demand entry-level skills in Queesland.
We help identify which certifications and courses are most relevant to your young person's pathway and support them through completing them.
One-on-One and Group Support
Employment Pathways is delivered through individual mentoring, small group workshops and real hands-on work experience tailored to where your young person is starting from and what they need to get to Earn or Learn.
Individual Sessions
Personalised one-on-one sessions focused on your young person specifically their goals, their resume, upcoming interviews and their progress through the program.
Group Workshops
Small group sessions covering resume writing, interview practice, workplace skills and conflict handling. Working alongside peers builds social confidence that individual sessions alone can't provide.
Hands-On Work Experience
Real work experience through our in-house teams with practical life skills, team habits and professional standards built in from day one.
NDIS Accessible
Employment Pathways is NDIS accessible. Employment support and capacity building for work-related goals may be fundable through your young person's NDIS plan. We work with participants, families and support coordinators to understand how existing funding can support their
involvement in this program.
Get in touch to discuss your young person's plan and we'll help you understand what's possible.
Let's Get Them Earning or Learning.
Whether your young person is still at school and planning ahead, has just finished, or has dropped out and doesn't know where to go we'd love to have a conversation. Get in touch and we'll talk honestly about where they're at and what the right pathway looks like for them.
Call: 0455 881 828
Email: [email protected]