Outcomes from submissions to Reforming Support to Vulnerable Young People – A Discussion Paper

Introductory Remarks During November and December 2012 three workshops were held with community service agencies delivering the SFYS program, Principal Associations, representatives from Catholic Education, Independent Schools and DEECD regional staff. A meeting was held with the MAV and local government authorities. Local government providers of SFYS were invited to provide their views on improving responses to vulnerable young people in writing. The outcomes of the workshops informed the development of Reforming Support to Vulnerable Young People – A Discussion Paper. During January and February 2013, community and education providers, including School Focused Youth Service (SFYS) stakeholders, were invited to provide a response to the paper. The paper sought to build on the learnings of programs like SFYS and gain feedback on the perceived problem, desired outcomes, functions and governance that would improve responses to vulnerable young people. 90 responses were received from approximately 100 service providers.

Breakdown of Submissions Received Number of submissions by organisation type Number of submissions by service boundary type

Summary of Responses Stakeholder contributions have agreed that a systemic response focussing on engaging and re-engaging vulnerable young people in learning needs to be: –Outcome focussed, accountable and flexible –Able to identify a platform that supports clear service co- ordination, planning and harnessing of community resources. –Responsive to the needs of local communities through an area based governance structure that brings together agencies and government departments at a local level.

Scope - determining the problem Stakeholders highlighted the following problems associated with engaging vulnerable young people in learning: –Fragmentation of response –Family capacity to support and engage –Service and school capacity to respond –Early identification in universal settings –Funding inconsistencies –Individual/social characteristics – e.g. refugee background, poverty, trauma.

Scope – what we are trying to achieve

Opportunities to strengthen DEECD’s approach to supporting vulnerable young people Stakeholders identified the following elements required to strengthen the support provided to vulnerable young people: –Embed a local point of contact through services or a facilitator role to coordinate and navigate local responses –Support for implementing a ‘No Wrong Door’ approach –Establish a clear pathway for young people not in education to re-engage with education –Resources funded to reflect need.

Function – summary of strategic responses PreventionEarly InterventionIntervention Universal learning settings to provide inclusive environment that supports all young people achieve Universal learning settings to identify young people at risk and provide an early response Agencies and learning settings to provide consistent managed support Universal learning platforms responsible for addressing common issues, e.g. bullying, positive relationships Community Service Agencies to acknowledge learning as critical and support re- engagement Learning settings need to be able to re-engage the most vulnerable young people Stakeholders agree that the function of a new approach to supporting vulnerable young people should: –Be evidence based and tailored –Ensure a balance between flexibility and accountability –Encourage structured and accountable partnerships –Place young people at centre

Governance – summary of responses Senior regional representation is fundamental Avoid another layer of bureaucracy Areas need to consider: –Demography –Population size –Distance between regional centres –Unmet demand Diverse opinions on whether Governance should focus on all young people or vulnerable young people only Evidence based principles and criteria are required to inform function of Governance.