Youth Connections

Youth Connections assists young people who are at risk of becoming disengaged from education, family and the community. Our qualified Youth Workers support young people at every stage of their transition, addressing the barriers that keep them from completing their studies or undertaking further training.

The Youth Connections Program helps young people who have left school, or are thinking of leaving school to continue with their education with a view to gaining a Year 12 (or equivalent) level education. It also provides an array of comprehensive and adaptable outreach services in the community so that young people are better connected to educational opportunities.

Designed to be responsive to the individual needs of clients, the program offers a one-on-one case management service with a dedicated Youth Worker who is experienced in navigating the barriers to education and engagement that many young people face. Recognising that educational barriers are often linked to other barriers to engagement, this unique program also provides pathways for young people to reconnect with family, find a mentor or connect to other organisations that can assist with barriers such as those experienced by young people with a mental health illness or learning disability.

Youth Connections Service Delivery Models

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.

Eligibility and Referrals

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.