Year13 launches Anyway AI career coach in Australia

Year13 has launched Anyway in Australia, a new platform featuring an AI career coach for people aged 14 to 24.

The launch extends Year13's focus beyond the period immediately after school. The business says it has already supported more than 2 million young people with school-to-work decisions.

At the centre of the rollout is Career Coach, an AI-based tool designed to give users personalised guidance based on their interests, values and progress. The service is intended to act as a digital mentor, offering support on pathways, learning experiences and career opportunities.

Year13 is positioning the product as a response to limited access to traditional career advice, citing an average student-to-advisor ratio of about 560:1. It argues that a digital service can provide more direct and continuous support.

The Australian launch follows a softer entry into the US market in late 2025 as the company expands its international footprint. According to the business, the rebrand to Anyway reflects a broader mission to support a wider age range than Year13 originally targeted.

"In many ways, we've graduated from Year 13 ourselves, and we are now supporting 14 to 24-year-olds, not just the year after school. Introducing Anyway reflects our continued and evolved mission to revolutionise the school-to-work journey for social and economic impact," said Will Stubley, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Anyway.

The Australian launch is also tied to a national initiative called the Tech for Transition Industry Pledge, which brings together partners from education, government and industry around the goal of ensuring every student leaves school with a clear career plan.

Organisations backing the initiative include the University of New England, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand, the Tech Council of Australia and Future Skills Organisation, giving the launch support across higher education, technology and workforce policy.

University partnership

A key part of the rollout is a partnership with the University of New England, which joins Anyway as its exclusive higher education partner. The regional New South Wales university said the arrangement aligns with its focus on online education and improving outcomes for young people in regional and rural areas.

"We see the pathways into higher education are becoming more diverse and less linear for young people. What matters now is whether they have access to the right support and opportunities along the way. At UNE, we're focused on enabling students with AI at the core of their learning journey. Partnering with Anyway allows us to extend that support into those formative decision-making years, through solutions like the AI-powered Career Coach," said Michaela Lobb, Director of Marketing, University of New England.

Lobb said the partnership also reflects broader changes in how education is delivered and accessed.

"Anyway reflects a broader shift in how we think about education. It's no longer confined to the classroom or even to the years a student is formally enrolled. That's why partnering with Anyway and backing this national pledge matters. It's about making sure every student, no matter where they live, has the support to figure out what comes next and leaves school with a clear path, not just a list of options," she said.

Industry support

Supporters of the launch said the service reflects growing demand for more practical guidance as technology reshapes work and study choices. They also pointed to the challenge of helping students navigate an increasingly fragmented set of education and employment pathways.

"Starting a career has never been more full of possibility, or more confusing. Anyway's AI-powered Career Coach is a strong example of how responsible AI can help students turn ambition into a practical plan - matching their interests and strengths with real pathways, skills and opportunities. By supporting Anyway, Microsoft is proud to work alongside education and community partners to help ensure more young Australians - regardless of where they live or their background - can build future-ready skills, navigate change with confidence, and take the next step into study or work," said John Galligan, General Manager, Corporate External and Legal Affairs, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand.

Lucinda Longcroft, Interim CEO and Director of Policy & Government Affairs at the Tech Council of Australia, said: "As technology changes the way we work and creates new opportunities across the economy, young people need clear, practical guidance on the skills they will need and the pathways available to them. Anyway is helping them build confidence, explore their options and make informed decisions about what comes next. We're delighted to support this work."

Future Skills Organisation framed the issue as both a workforce and education challenge.

"The transition from school to work is one of the most critical points in a young person's journey, yet too many are navigating it without the guidance they need. At Future Skills Organisation, we're proud to support the Anyway mission, recognising that improving access to clear, relevant education & career pathways is essential to building a skilled and adaptable workforce. Anyway is helping connect education, training, and employment in a way that supports stronger outcomes for young people. We're excited to be part of an initiative that is strengthening Australia's future talent pipeline," said Patrick Kidd OBE OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Future Skills Organisation.

"Together with our partners, we're committing to use technology, collaboration and shared expertise to help young people find direction, build capability, and take confident steps toward their futures," said Stubley.