Northern Mallee LLEN has built strategic, sustainable partnerships with Government organisations, Industry, TAFE, RTOs, Universities, Trade Centres, Schools and Community Organisations in the region to improve education and transition outcomes for young people. Northern Mallee LLEN uses its knowledge of the region to influence strategic planning and broker partnerships among key stakeholders to support young people to remain engaged or re-engage in education or training.

Young people need access to meaningful engagements with the labour market to give them the confidence and capacity to make informed choices about their aspirations. Engaging with the world of work also allows students to make sense of what they are learning in the classroom and how it relates to a future job.

Young people are also more likely to trust the information they receive from firsthand experiences with businesses and employers. The authentic nature of the encounter gives the information credibility and reliability, opposed to how young people view advice from the school or friends and family.

Meaningful engagements with employers have impacts beyond school. A young person who has just four or more meaningful encounters with an employer is 86% less likely to be unemployed or not in education or training.