The Victorian Government has set down an action list of 40 things it will do to help and motivate young people to achieve their full potential. These build on all of the ongoing activity for young people across government. Here are the top ten, listed against each of the priorities raised in the consultation.
Contributing and valuing input
Fifteen Youth Foundations (new window) will be established around Victoria. They will give young people the chance to manage funds and make small grants for youth-led activities in their local communities. These foundations will bring adult mentors, community agencies and business supporters together with diverse young people to choose and carry out development activities in their communities.
Three new channels will help Government hear the voice of young people: Young People Direct will build on existing networks, so young people from across Victoria can provide advice directly to the Minister for Youth Affairs. The Department of Education will set up Student Voice to promote ways for students to take part in school council decision-making processes and the Youth Arts Reference Group will give policy advice to Arts Victoria.
Media Release: $33 Million on Top of Budget to Build a Fairer Victoria (new window)
For more information on having your say, check out our Know Your Rights section.
Education, training and employment
Youth Transition Support (new window) will be provided to young people who need help getting their lives back on the right path to further education or a career. Over the next four years, 22 transition workers will work in places with high rates of unemployment, low rates of students finishing Year 12 and high numbers of people not working or studying.
Koori youth at risk of leaving school early will get intensive outreach support through the Preventative Youth Early School Leaver and Youth Employment Program. The program will support these young people to remain in school or connect to alternative education and training programs.
4500 new pre-apprenticeship places will be created in skill shortage locations and industries, so young people have the chance to complete appropriate off-the-job training before they start work.
Media Release: $367 Million to Maintain Victoria's Skill Advantage (new window)
For more information on education and careers options, check out our Jobs & Careers section.
Transport
Transport in metropolitan and regional areas will get better (new window). Train and tram services will soon run until 1.00am on Fridays and Saturdays in key suburban areas like Sunshine and Dandenong. In regional areas, bus links to Regional Fast Rail services will be set up, along with new connections to small towns and new services in growing regional centres. Transport options and access will be improved with the creation of Flexible Transport Solutions in regional, rural and outer suburban areas.
Rail safety and security will also improve, with 30 new Authorised Officers to support late-night train services on Friday and Saturday night. In addition, seven extra rail stations will soon be staffed from first to last train, seven days a week.
For more on travel and transport, download Meeting our Transport Challenges (new window) and check out our Travel & Transport section.
Health and safety
Healthy body image and weight messages (new window) will also be promoted through community education and training partnerships, community based programs and partnerships with the media and fashion industries.
Three new Youth Early Psychosis services will be created, and existing services strengthened. These services will support young people with first onset psychosis and boost access to early intervention and treatment.
Homeless young people will get more housing support. Up to 200 young people will be able to leave refuges, and more young people will be able to remain in supported housing. A new rental brokerage will help an extra 350 young people rent homes in the private market.
For more on health, housing and accommodation, check out our Health & Relationships and Housing & Accommodation sections.
Next steps and more details
Young people are central to making Future Directions work. From now, the Government will be working with young people, all levels of government, business and the community involved in this action plan. Local government, youth and community organisations, business and philanthropic organisations will get the chance to provide feedback on the part they'll play in the new approach and how they'll put it into practice.
For more information about Future Directions, check out the summary of the Action Agenda for Young Victorians.
You can also download the complete Future Directions report as a PDF document (1.3MB).
