Welfare groups have expressed alarm at the impending closure of an alternative education centre at Laverton.
The Link Centre helps some of the most at-risk young people in one of Melbourne’s most disadvantaged areas, and has operated at the back of Laverton P-12 College since 2005.
About 40 young people, aged about 14 to 17 and mainly from Hobsons Bay and Wyndham, are supported through the centre each year.
The students may have a history of trauma or bullying, mental health issues, drug use, criminal activity, or low educational skills.
Centre manager Rasheel Kaur said the state government had withdrawn $300,000, which means the centre will close at year’s end.
“I’m gutted,” she said. “I feel nervous about the closure and the lack of services for the young at-risk people in our area.
“Kids are often school-refusing due to mental health issues, and are often out of school for anything from about three months to 15 months.”
She said that, out of 41 students enrolled last year, 38 per cent went on to do year 11, 33 per cent undertook vocational training programs and the rest returned for another round.
One of the centre’s mums, Tanya, said her 16-year-old son has been doing brilliantly at the centre and she had hoped to transfer her 15-year-old daughter from a mainstream school to the centre next year because of bullying.
“She’s quite introverted and she doesn’t fit in in mainstream but is an A student,” Tanya said.
“I know a lot of the schools say zero bullying but I’ve seen it first-hand with my daughter … it’s at the point where she’s threatening suicide.
“It’s absolutely awful that the centre’s closing because it’s such a good place for children who don’t fit in.”
Carol Muir, chief executive of UnitingCare Werribee Support and Housing, said her service had a number of clients and families at the centre, and there were already referrals for next year. “They’ll either have to go in to the city or in to Geelong to receive a service,” she said.
Rhonda Collins, manager of Altona-based youth homelessness service Latitude, said it made no sense to close a centre with a proven track record.
“It is the only alternative education setting that young people … have access to,” she said. “It’s a proven model, it has a high retention rate, young people have re-engaged back in to mainstream schools.”
A state government spokesman said the education department is working with the school and the Link Centre on future options.
