What is Youth Connections ?
Youth Connections is an initiative of the Commonwealth Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).
Youth Connections is a national, flexible, individualised and responsive service to assist young people who are most at risk of disengaging from education or training and therefore not attaining Year 12 or equivalent and not making a successful transition to further study, training or work.
Youth Connections offers a continuum of services so that young people at risk can access the help they need, including:
Type One Service Delivery
- assists young who are most at risk of disengaging;
- offer short term, low level intervention and case management and group work;
- development of a Re-engagement Plan.
Type Two Service Delivery
- assists young people who are in school and at imminent risk of disengaging or who have recently disengaged from school or other education environments; and those who are severely disengaged from school, education, family and/or community;
- flexible and individualised case management addressing barriers to participation in education or training to attainment Year 12 (or equivalent);
- development of a Re-engagement Plan;
- individual and group activities to assist re-engagement;
- linking young people with appropriate services;
- advocating on behalf of the young person.
Type Three Service Delivery
- proactive youth-focused activities and outreach services that are accessible to young people;
- services to the young people’s families.
Type Four Service Delivery
- strengthens services for at risk young people;
- builds strong relationships with providers of services to at risk young people;
- identify and share best practice with service providers working with at risk youth.
To be eligible for Youth Connections, a young person must:
- be Australian citizen and permanent resident of Australia or on a humanitarian visa (subclass 200-204, 866 and 851);
- identified as being at risk of disengagement from education (and therefore not attaining Year 12 or equivalent) and at risk of not making a smooth transition through school and from school to further education, training or employment;
- be between 13-19 year of age;
Maribynong & Moonee Valley
WCIG is the lead agent (in consortium with Djerriwarrh Employment & Education Services) in the Maribyrnong & Moonee Valley Youth Attainment & Transition region. If you reside or attend school in this region please contact our Footscray office on 9689 3437.
WynBay
WCIG is the lead agent (in consortium with Djerriwarrh Employment & Education Services) in the WynBay Youth Attainment & Transition region (servicing the Wyndham & Hobsons Bay area). If you reside or attend school in this region please contact our Werribee office on 9731 0477.
Brimbank Melton
Djerriwarrh Employment & Education Services is the lead agent (in consortium with WCIG) in the Brimbank Melton Youth Attainment & Transition region. If you reside or attend school in this region please contact Djerriwarrh on 8746 1000.
Referrals can be made via
- schools;
- other education and training providers;
- providers of services involving young people;
- self referrals;
- family members;
- Centrelink;
- Job Services Australia providers;
- other.