Beacon Foundation chief executive Scott Harris said young people, especially those in year 11 and 12 in 2020, had been hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.

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"It's tough, a lot of them have lost their confidence, there's mental health issues that have become a real challenge and that's why we need to wrap our arms around our young people now," he said.

"We need to put the young person at the centre of the conversation, that's critical."

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As a result of this, Mr Harris said that the education industry needed to provide high-level support to school leavers and senior students as they look to enter the workforce.

"[We need] great strategies to make sure that young people, firstly, make it through school but secondly, move into something meaningful into an employment opportunities," he said.

"There are still great opportunities in this state but we need to make sure that young people are lined-up to successfully transition through."

The foundation specifically works across communities in Sorell, Bayview, Jordan River, George Town, Central Coast and Meander Valley, who are part of "action research" to help the project.

Mr Harris said the conference look at innovative ways to help school-leavers transition into careers after schooling and reach their potential.

"Out of [those discussions] we're hopeful to have some really key strategies that in-turn help influence policy in time," he said.

"This work this week, is really around us having a framework to support innovation ... to provide an innovative framework to support young people."

"In any system, it's critical that you continue innovation and that is exactly what's happening this week."

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The conference is part of the Beacon Foundation's collective ed. initiative which is supported by the Tasmanian Government through the department of education and department of growth as well as the Paul Ramsay Foundation.

Collective Ed's five year timeframe (2017-2021) includes goals to get 90 per cent of young people to complete year 12 or equivalent in Tasmania and provide better pathways after school.

The conference is expected to be attended by around 50 people, including a mix of teachers, students and keynote speakers as it runs from March 1-2.

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