THE future is grim for a Dandenong organisation which helps at-risk youth, after the Federal Government cut its funding last week.
Hand Brake Turn (HBT) Dandenong, run by Concern Australia, provided young people at risk the opportunity to get their life on track through an automotive training program ‘Australian Apprenticeships Access Program’.
Concern Australia received federal funding from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) since 1997, HBT Dandenong manager Bruce Docker said, but he was told on Friday last week that the funding has been cut.
Mr Docker said the news devastated the centre’s eight staff members. “Everyone is shocked to get a Christmas present like that,” he said.
Besides being concerned for his staff, which Mr Docker said included newlyweds and members of young families, he was worried about the well-being of disengaged youth in the area that access the centre’s services.
“We are talking about young people – schools send them here, police send them here, Centrelink sends them here and child protection services sends them here,” he said.
“We have accepted 12 students for the coming two-month course in 2010 and will have to run it without any funding.”
Mr Docker said he hoped community organisations or residents would lend a helping hand and sponsor youths in the program, which came at a cost of $5500 per student.
“The best case scenario is that we will receive enough funding to keep the program going,” he said.
“I have been pleased with how the course has been running, and many kids are getting their lives back on track.”
Holt MP Anthony Byrne has spoken in support of Hand Brake Turn in Parliament.
A spokesperson said Mr Byrne had a productive meeting with the directors of Hand Brake Turn on Friday morning and was looking into alternative arrangements that could be put in place to continue to run the program.
Contracts for the Australian Apprenticeships Access Program were awarded in a tender process conducted by DEEWR.
– Lia Bichel
