National hopes for $1.7m trial targeting youth

By John Van Klaveren
A GROUND-BREAKING Geelong early-intervention homelessness program could be rolled out nationally, according to welfare agencies.
Swinburne University researchers are working on the $1.75 million Geelong Project with agencies Time for Youth and Barwon Youth.
Swinburne Institute of Social Research’s Associate Professor David McKenzie and Dr Monica Thielking said the project was “poised to make a difference to youth homelessness”.
The project involved up to 10,000 students from the Geelong area, Dr Thielking said.
Work started in June on coordinating service providers and government agencies to identify need for early-intervention services.
“This week is Homeless Persons Week, so it’s timely to reflect on the lives of those facing challenges every day,” Dr Thielking said.
“We’ve found that once young people leave home or education it’s difficult to get back in.
“The earlier we can identify and reduce that risk, the better their chances are in life.”
Prof MacKenzie said the project aimed to ensure fewer children and young people fell through the cracks.
“We need to break down silos of service delivery so it’s simply not possible for children to remain invisible.”
Dr Thielking said Geelong was ideally set up to make the most of the project.
“We’re very passionate about it not only because we have both worked in Geelong but because the services here are incredibly collaborative.
“That makes it fertile ground for the development of a pilot program to integrate services.”
The program includes an e-Wellbeing Toolbox allowing early Intervention teams to track who receives and provides support.
The Victorian Government contributed $1.5 million to the project, with the Commonwealth providing $250,000 for research and evaluation.
“Governments see this as a lighthouse project,” Prof MacKenzie said.
“We’re really excited about what this project will deliver and we’re going to make sure the people of Geelong as well as people across Australia hear about it every step of the way.”
The pilot program runs until September 2013.