The Andrews Labor Government is empowering Victoria’s vulnerable youth by providing them with intensive and coordinated support, engagement in education and training and greater pathways to employment.

Minister for Youth Affairs Jenny Mikakos joined Member for Geelong Chris Couzens to meet with staff and young people at Barwon Child, Youth and Family Services in Geelong today, to discuss their upcoming work with disadvantaged young people in the area,  as part of the Labor Government’s Empower Youth Program.

Barwon Child, Youth and Family Services will receive $550,000 in funding over three years to deliver its ImPACT project. This project will work collectively with young people, local communities, businesses, artists and employers to tackle a range of issues facing young people in the City of Geelong.

It will connect disadvantaged young people to education, employment and training opportunities and work with them to identify and achieve their health, career and wellbeing goals.

The Government has committed more than $4 million over three years to support local organisations to run eight Empower Youth programs across the state.

Each funded organisation will support up to 100 young people in their community every year to develop and deliver individual plans that focus on the four elements of community participation, health and wellbeing, education and training, and employment pathways.

The organisations will work closely with each young person to develop a plan and identify goals across those four areas.

Other organisations taking part in the program include:

• Centacare Ballarat, which will partner with Headspace in Ballarat to improve the health and wellbeing of young people by offering intensive and coordinated health services and the development of career pathways
• The Islamic Council of Victoria, which will directly engage with Muslim youths to develop and deliver programs that help them overcome social, economic and community barriers
• Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Co-Operative Ltd, which will provide support for Aboriginal young people to engage with school, family and community, as well as access leadership opportunities.

The Government is helping the state’s youth have their say and participate in decision-making as part of its Youth Policy: Building Stronger Youth Engagement in Victoria.

For more information go to www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

“We are supporting  young people in need by improving their social, community and economic opportunities.”

“The Empower Youth program will provide tailored support for young people to give them the help they need to reach their potential.”

Quote attributable to Member for Geelong Chris Couzens

“This project will help young people have better access to employment, education and positive health outcomes to benefit them and their community.”