News

Ticks all round on youth partnerships

Fri, 06 Apr 2018 15:12:00

Northern Mallee LLEN says strong community partnerships are helping to turn around disengagement of young people in the Mallee.

Data released at the Northern Mallee Local Learning and Employment Network’s recent Annual General Meeting showed the first turnaround in a decade on critical measures of engagement of young people in education, training and employment.
Northern Mallee LLEN chair Fiona Harley (pictured) praised educators, employers and the community sector in Mildura and Robinvale for their combined efforts in implementing innovative programs to turn around young lives.
The Mallee has struggled with growing disengagement rates that are among the highest in the State.  Data from the 2011 census showed 8.8 percent of 15 to19-year olds, and 22 percent of young people 20 to 24 were not in education, training and employment.
But Ms Harley told the Annual General Meeting that data from the latest Census in 2016 showed the trend was now being reversed.  The figures show a one percentage point reduction in the number of disengaged 15 to 19-year olds, and a two percentage point reduction in the 20 to 24 age group.
Ms Harley said the data was a measure of success for the region’s innovative Flexible Learning Option (FLO) programs.
“These are vital complementary projects that aim to keep vulnerable young people engaged while they are at school, or to reconnect disengaged young people back into school, training or employment,” Ms Harley said.
“FLO in Schools works with vulnerable young people while they are still at school, and since 2012 there have been 586 students involved, with an average of 84 percent still engaged in education or training in the following year.”
“FLO Connect is an alternative education setting that assists and supports young people aged between 12 and 18 who are not in school, training or work, to transition back, into one of those streams.”
“Since commencing in 2014, 225 young people have joined FLO Connect with an average of 77% involved in education, training or employment in the following year.”
Ms Harley said the programs have a combined total reach of 811 students and were starting to provide the long-term evidence of the impact effective interventions could have.
“The board’s grateful for the innovation, passion and collaborative efforts of the schools involved – Mildura Senior College, Red Cliffs, Irymple and Chaffey Secondary Colleges and Merbein P-10,” she said.
“We also wish to acknowledge and thank Red Cliffs Secondary College and Mildura Rural City Council as the key drivers of the FLO Connect program.
“Our combined efforts mean these young people have increased capacity to gain meaningful employment or follow vocational education pathways – which is a life-long outcome.”
In addition, the Northern Mallee LLEN’s Navigator Pilot Project was working in partnership with the Department of Education and Training, Mildura Rural City Council, FLO Connect and Murray Mallee LLEN.
“The Navigator program involves early intervention and intensive case management support for young people in schools aged 12-17 whose attendance is less than 30 percent,” Ms Harley said.
“The aim of the program is to re-engage Navigator clients back into school when ready to do so.
“Since the program began in 2016, of the 141 referrals to the program, 114 have received case management support and 61 have returned to education.”
Ms Harley said ongoing strong and growing partnerships between government, community-based organisations, industry and community were the key to continuing to improve the region’s outcomes.
“In a nutshell, we should be very proud of what is being achieved,” she said.
“Our interventions are working, but much remains to be done if we are to realise our aspiration for every young person in our community to be involved in education, training or employment.”