‘Youth Foyer’ Project to Help Young People to Learn
27 April 2012 at 10:34 am
Welfare organisations have joined with the Kangan Institute in Victoria to deliver a new student accommodation program for young people who are unable to live at home and wish to study and secure employment.
The Brotherhood of St Laurence, Hanover Welfare Services and the Kangan Institute will deliver the new project known as Youth Foyer .
Tony Nicholson, the CEO of the Brotherhood of St Laurence says Youth Foyers are designed for young people who are without family support but who wish to remain or re-engage with the education system.
“This project is so vital because without education and skills young people are unable to realise their aspirations and build a good life for themselves,” Nicholson said.
The Youth Foyer is described as the first model of its kind in Victoria to join up two complex areas of government, providing secure, student accommodation for young people who agree to engage in training and education.
Tony Keenan, the CEO of Hanover has welcomed the Victorian government’s investment saying Youth Foyers provide long term support to ensure that the most disadvantaged young Victorians get a genuine chance to succeed in life. “This is cutting edge social policy that we know works.”
Independent evaluations of Youth Foyers operating in the United Kingdom showed that 75% of young people exiting foyers were successfully engaged in further education, employment or both.
The Kangan Institute is a learning facility that will offer the Youth Foyer project.
“We have substantial expertise in working with disengaged learners and we are incredibly proud to be a key partner in this project,” said Ray Griffiths, CEO, Kangan Institute.
The Youth Foyer will be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and the student residents will be hand selected young people that have demonstrated a willingness to engage in education and employment. Youth Foyers generally provide up to two years of accommodation.
To find out more go to The Brotherhood of St Laurence website.
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