YOUNG people at risk will fall through the cracks if a school-based intervention program is cut, according to its Brimbank provider.
Melbourne Citymission employment education and training director Steve Maillet said the state government had cut School Focused Youth Service funding from the end of next June in a bid to save about $7.5 million.
Melbourne Citymission receives about $180,000 from the Education Department to run the early intervention support program in more than 60 Brimbank and Maribyrnong schools. It offers projects and direct assistance for students aged 10-18 who are at risk of offending, self-harm and suicide.
Mr Maillet said he was not confident the program would continue despite assurances from the government that it was “under review” and not officially cut. The program was one of the key recommendations of the government’s Suicide Prevention Taskforce in 1997.
As well as targeted projects, it assists young people through counselling, school equipment or transport costs. Mr Maillet added: “These children are already vulnerable due to other risk factors . . . it’s not a large investment for something that has such a big impact. We are disappointed and worried about what might happen.”
A department spokeswoman said it was reviewing programs that focused on vulnerable children, young people and adults.
“The department will continue to provide support to at-risk youth through targeted support programs and is in discussion with the MAV [Municipal Association of Victoria], VCOSS [Victorian Council of Social Services] and the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria, school principals and the Catholic and independent school sectors to plan the best way forward.”
