SKILLS FIRST YOUTH ACCESS INITIATIVE: GUIDE BOOK

HELPING BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN DISADVANTAGE AND EDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN VICTORIA

SKILLS FIRST YOUTH ACCESS INITIATIVECREATING ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Background

Young people in Victoria aged 24 years old and under that have been or are currently on a Child Protection Order or a Youth Justice Order, or are a resident of Education First Youth Foyer, are eligible for the Skills First Youth Access Initiative, allowing them to study government subsidised accredited Vocational Education and Training (VET) and pay no tuition fees.

PLACING THE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE FIRST

The Skills First Youth Access Initiative focuses on creating a viable pathway to education and employment that greatly improves a young person’s chance to break out of the cycle of disadvantage.

Under the Skills First reforms the initiative aligns with the government commitment to assist disadvantaged learners to engage with and succeed in education and training.

The Skills First Youth Access Initiative was developed with the following three principles shown in Figure 1 to support young people:

FIGURE 1

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SKILLS FIRST YOUTH ACCESS INITIATIVEINCREASING ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR YOUNG VICTORIANSFollow the steps shown in Figure 2 to complete the referral form for the tuition fee-waiver and course enrolment.

FIGURE 2

STEP 1

COMPLETE TRAINING

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SKILLS FIRST YOUTH ACCESS INITIATIVEPATHWAYS FOR BETTER FUTURE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Who is eligible? What? How?

Young people aged 24 years and under that have been or currently are on a Child Protection Order or Youth Justice Order, or are a resident of one of the following five Education First Youth Foyers:

Broadmeadows – Kangan TAFE Lilydale - Box Hill TAFE Glen Waverley – Holmesglen TAFE Shepparton - GoTAFE Warrnambool – South West TAFE

Tuition fee-waiver. Eligible young people do not have to pay tuition fees for undertaking any government subsidised accredited training at participating training providers.

Referrals may occur through a referral agency or self-referral. Referral forms need to be signed by an authorised officer and presented at a Skills First contracted TAFE, Dual Sector University or Learn Local provider to complete enrolment.

Participating Training providers Authorised Officers Referral agenciesThe eligible young person can study under the Skills First Youth Access Initiative by enrolling at the following training providers:

a) a TAFE Institute or a Dual Sector University; or

b) a Learn Local Organisation (LLO) that is a Registered Training Provider (RTO) with a current Skills First VET Funding Contract.

These include Post-Care Support staff, Education First Youth Foyer authorised staff, Youth Justice case managers, central DJCS authorised staff, authorised Parkville College transition staff and authorised DET managers.

Any organisation based in Victoria that currently receives funding from, or is contracted by the Victorian or Federal Government to provide services to children, young people and/or families can act as a Referral Agency.

Additional Eligibility Matters

The young person must be eligible for training subsidised through Skills First and in accordance with the eligibility requirements specified in the VET Funding Contract. Further information regarding Skills First and the VET Funding Contract can be obtained online here: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/training/providers/funding/Pages/skillsfirst.aspx

The tuition fee-waiver will be provided under the Skills First Youth Access Initiative to eligible young persons to study the following accredited Government subsidised training:

i) the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL); ii) the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE);iii) Certificate I – IV;iv) Diploma or Advanced Diploma courses; andv) a Statement of Attainment.

The list of courses available under this initiative can be identified by referencing the current funded course list at: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/training/providers/funding/Pages/fundedcourses.aspx?Redirect=1

A list of eligible training providers can be accessed on the DET Skills First Youth Access Initiative website.

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SKILLS FIRST YOUTH ACCESS INITIATIVEGOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS & THE COMMUNITY SECTOR WORKING TOGETHER TO DELIVER OUTCOMESFocus on Outcomes

Questions Responses OutcomesWho is eligible? The young person must:

be 24 years and under when first commencing education and training; and

have been or are currently on a Child Protection Order or a Youth Justice Order or;

be a resident of an Education First Youth Foyer.

Increase in awareness of the Initiative and its eligibility and enrolment processes.

Increase the participation in VET of priority cohorts.

Where are the eligible young people?

Education First Youth Foyers.

Transitioning from school.

Transitioning from youth detention.

Connected to Child Welfare Services.

Connected to Youth Justice Services.

Disengaged from education and/ or unemployed.

Connected to education and employment support services, such as Youth Learning Pathways, Reconnect or Transition to Work.

Skills and Job Centres.

Increase in student enrolment numbers in the Initiative.

Increase numbers of at risk of homelessness and homeless young people participating in VET.

Increase young people impacted by Youth Justice and Child Protection participating in VET.

Building the capacity of disadvantaged communities and cohorts.

Developing the capabilities of young people experiencing disadvantage to navigate the VET system.

Promoting lifelong learning for young people experiencing disadvantage.

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Questions Responses OutcomesAre the available support services fit for purpose?

Ability of sector to utilise and connect existing support services.

Ability to identify gaps, and develop and provide necessary support services.

Increase training provider’s capacity and capabilities to deliver support to student cohorts through DET funded programs, such as Raising Expectations.

Increase in availability of suitable support arrangements to enable students to participate in the Initiative.

Is there enough support for the potential student to engage in the program?

General awareness of support services that are available.

Ability to obtain the support services.

Referral Agencies and Training Providers’ awareness of support needs for the cohort.

Connecting students to the available and appropriate post- enrolment supports.

Increase in use of support services to enable students to participate in the Initiative.

Improve students’ potential to complete course.

Provide a positive learning experience for educationally disadvantaged cohort.

Increase young people’s social and economic participation.

What activities need to be improved within the sector to increase the number of students participating in the program and transitioning to further education or employment?

Pre-enrolment process, TAFE/trade tasters for young people.

Opportunities for young people to explore options, and gain knowledge about the current/local job market.

Pathway and transition support during course.

Address barriers for young people

Increase in the number of students transitioning to further education and/or employment after participating in the Initiative.

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Questions Responses Outcomestransitioning from youth justice to VET, such as online access to pre-requisite testing and enrolment support.

DEFINITIONS

SKILLS FIRSTSkills First provides vocational training courses at any level, other than Foundation Skills courses if you are:

an Australian citizen; or

a holder of a permanent visa; or

a New Zealand citizen; and

not enrolled in school.

You may also be eligible for a government-subsidised place in a Foundation Skills course, unless you are receiving equivalent training elsewhere.

You can enrol in a maximum of two government-subsidised courses in one year (this does not apply to people under 20 years of age). This maximum doesn’t include pre-apprenticeships for individuals who want to enrol in an apprenticeship.

Visit the online finder to assess your eligibility at: https://www.skills.vic.gov.au/victorianskillsgateway/Students/Pages/vtg-eligibility-indicator.aspx .

You can only ever begin a maximum of two government-subsidised courses at the same qualification level. This restriction does not apply to people under 20 years of age, Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)/Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) students, or to students starting training again in the same qualification (at the same or a different provider). Need further advice? Email the Skills First team: skillsfirst.enquiry@edumail.vic.gov.au

LEGISLATIONYouth Justice Orders are imposed under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 that requires the Court to make rehabilitation a priority.

Child Protection Orders are enforced through the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, and incorporate a number of arrangements as detailed below.

YOUTH JUSTICE ORDERSCommunity Sentences – this is when the court hands down a non-custodial sentence such as a dismissal, an undertaking or a good behaviour bond, or one of the following orders:

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Youth control order – this is for children aged 10 to 18. This sentence is served in the community and has strict conditions. Conditions could be going to school or work, getting health treatment or counselling, staying at home at night, not using social media, or not being allowed to go to certain places. A youth control order can last up to 12 months. During the first half of the order, the child must come back to court at least once a month so the court can check the child’s progress. During the last half of the order, the court will decide how often the child must come back to court for this purpose. If the child does not follow the conditions, they will go into detention, unless there are special reasons.Probation order – the child must be supervised by a Youth Justice worker, and not commit any crime. Probation can include special conditions, such as going to counselling or attending a day program.

Youth supervision order – this is like a probation order, but it has more supervision. Under this sentence, the child must follow the instructions of a Youth Justice worker, and not do any crime. Like probation, this sentence can include special conditions. Youth attendance order – this is only for young people aged 15 to 20 as an alternative to a youth justice centre order (detention). Under a youth attendance order, the child or young person will be supervised by a Youth Justice worker, and must follow strict reporting and attendance conditions. This sentence can also include conditions such as education, counselling, treatment, or unpaid community work. The child or young person must not do any crime during the sentence. If the child or young person does not follow the conditions, they may have to go into detention.

Detention (custodial) Sentences – serious youth offences are defined as a Category A or B for and are referred to the adult court and sentences are served in adult detention. Other more common youth detention sentences include:

Youth residential centre order – this is detention (being locked up) in a youth residential centre. This sentence can only be given to a child aged under 15 at the time of sentencing. While in a youth residential centre, the child must go to education classes. The child or young person might also do programs (like anger management courses) to improve their behaviour.

Youth justice centre order – this is detention (being locked up) in a youth justice centre. This sentence can only be given to a child or young person aged 15 to 20 at the time of sentencing. While in a youth justice centre, the child must go to education classes. The child or young person might also have to do programs (like anger management courses) to improve their behaviour.

CHILD PROTECTION ORDERSTemporary assessment order - Child protection practitioners from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) have applied to the Children’s Court for a temporary assessment order to allow them to investigate a report that the child is at risk of harm.

Interim accommodation order - A protection application has been issued and the Court has decided an interim order is needed to keep the child safe until it determines the application. This order is about where the child must live until the next court date. It will usually include conditions.

Family preservation order - The Court has decided that a child is in need of protection and can safely stay in their parents’ care while the protective concerns are being addressed. The child will live with one or both parents with no change to parental responsibility for the child. The DHHS has to supervise the child. The objective is to help the family to make changes needed to keep the child safe at home so the family can stay together permanently. This order will usually include conditions.

Family reunification order -The Court has decided that a child is in need of protection and cannot safely stay in their parents’ care while the protective concerns are being addressed. This order grants parental responsibility for the child to the Secretary of the 8

DHHS with the limitation that parents’ agreement is needed about major long-term issues. It will usually include conditions. The child will stay in out of home care and the objective is for the child to be reunified with their parent/s once this has happened, and within 12 months, or up to 24 months where permanent reunification is likely by then.

Care by Secretary order - The Court has decided that family reunification will not be achieved in a timely way for the child, or the child has been in out of home care for 24 months and still cannot safely return to their parents’ care. Under this order, the Secretary of DHHS has parental responsibility for the child, to the exclusion of all others, for two years. This means that DHHS is responsible for the child’s care and wellbeing and for all decisions concerning them. Usually, the objective is to find a permanent or long-term carer for the child, preferably with extended family, or if not, with another family as soon as possible. In exceptional circumstances, the objective may still be family reunification.

Long-term care order - The Court has decided the child is in need of long-term care and there is a suitable carer available to raise the child. Under this order the Secretary of the DHHS, has parental responsibility for the child, to the exclusion of all others, until the child’s 18th birthday. This means DHHS is responsible for supporting the child’s carer to look after the child until they grow up, and for all decisions concerning the child.

Permanent care order - The Court has found proposed permanent carers suitable to have parental responsibility for the child to the exclusion of all others, including the Secretary of DHHS. Under this order the carers are the permanent care parents of the child, and have all the duties, powers, responsibilities and authority that parents have in relation to the child until the child’s 18th birthday. The order will usually include conditions.

Undertaking - The Court has decided that a child is in need of protection and that future risks can be sufficiently managed by the parent and child with community support. The undertaking may include conditions. The DHHS does not stay involved when an undertaking is made.

SKILLS FIRST YOUTH ACCESS INITIATIVE

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