At-risk youth help

By Lia Bichel
A NEW program has been rolled out to help at-risk youth in the City of Greater Dandenong complete their education.
People aged 13 to 19 who have left or may leave secondary school before completion can participate in the South East Youth Connections Consortium (SEYCC) Youth Connection program.
A team of professional case workers will provide ongoing support to help the program participants develop resilience and life skills to make positive life choices, engage or re-engage with their family and community and improve their health and well-being, Mission Australia’s Victorian State Director Paul Bird said.
“Youth Connections is for young people who, for any number of reasons, find themselves at risk of leaving secondary school before completion, or not progressing into further education training or work,” Mr Bird said.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed in life and through Youth Connections, SEYCC will offer youth focused and innovative activities with the aim of finding, connecting and re-engaging with severely disengaged young people and getting them back into education.”
“Ultimately we will help at-risk young people stay in school and help them make the transition from school to further education, training and employment.”
Mr Bird said the SEYCC workers will work with schools and the community in an effort to achieve a 90 per cent Year 12 or equivalent target and provide holistic learning opportunities.
Youth Connections is funded by the Australian Government under the National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions, a joint initiative of the Australian and State and Territory Governments.
South East Youth Connections (SEYCC) is led by one of Australia’s leading community service organisations, Mission Australia and its consortium partner- Link Employment and Training, Taskforce Community Agency Inc, and William Angliss Institute and Southern Health.
For more information about how Youth Connections can help at risk young people in Melbourne’s South East, contact Mission Australia on 1800 335 106 or visit www.missionaustralia.com.au
The SEYCC will deliver the Youth Connections program, which will also be delivered in Cardinia and Casey.