Abandoning traditional work arrangements and finding new industries could hold the key to reducing unemployment rates in the Queensland seat of Hinkler, a community leader says.
Hinkler takes in the cities of Bundaberg and Hervey Bay, stretching inland to Howard and Childers.
With youth unemployment at almost double the national average, community leaders are demanding action from election candidates.
"Young people do tend to leave the region to be able to go to university and further their education or get a job they're able to grow into," Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre chief executive Tanya Stevenson said.
"Historically our jobs are mainly in hospitality and tourism."
The neighbourhood centre recently secured federal funding to expand a program for 13-to-36-year-olds with employment readiness courses and job coaches.
Ms Stevenson said finding work in the region was challenging for young jobseekers and it was time for a rethink.
"Our younger generations are more flexible in their work and they're very happy to have that work/life balance," she said.
Second highest rate in state
The unemployment rate for 15 to 24-year-olds on the Fraser Coast sits at 16.5 per cent, according to the Queensland Government Statistician's Office — far higher than the state average of 10.4 per cent and the second highest in the state.
At a national level, the rate is 9.3 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The LNP's incumbent in Hinkler, Keith Pitt, said he stood on his record.
"I've delivered one of Australia's first regional deals of $170 million plus from the Commonwealth, and $600m for Paradise Dam," he said.
"I know they've done it tough, and locally we've done some difficult things in terms of some policies around the cashless debit card."
Cashless card controversy
The cashless debit card program has been controversial since it was introduced in the Fraser Coast region in early 2019 as a form of income management that restricts the way money is spent by welfare recipients.
The card cannot be used to withdraw cash or purchase certain items such as alcohol, gambling products and some gift cards.
The program is due to continue in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay until the end of the year.
Independent candidate for Hinkler Jack Dempsey, a former LNP state minister and Bundaberg mayor, said he would increase productivity to ensure positive change.
"We need to get rid of this negative cashless card and be able to get people into proper employment," he said.
"We need funding for our schools, our hospitals and other institutions to raise the quality of skilled workers, and then we're able to help with the housing crisis.
"We'd be able to get to livability and lifestyle, whether it be projects like flood mitigation in Bundaberg and secure water here in Hervey Bay.
"It's across the board, but the local members have had nine years of thinking that the rest of Australia is going to change and that will change the unemployment figures here."
The Labor candidate for Hinkler, Jason Scanes, did not respond to the ABC's requests for comment.
Opportunity for jobseekers
Despite the high youth unemployment rate, Bundaberg jobs project officer Jo Donnison said there were positions for the taking.
"Our biggest areas of employment are health and social assistance, agriculture, education, hospitality and tourism," she said.
"We've got the highest number of jobs advertised that we have ever had.
"There is definitely opportunity for upskilling and reskilling in our region."
Ms Donnison said there was help available for those who needed it, but more could be done to get people into work.
"For the young people coming into the workforce for the very first time, there is a lot of support for them just in terms of how we help them find those jobs and how do we help them stay in them," she said.
