YOUNG people at risk will fall through the cracks if a school-based intervention program is cut, according to its Maribyrnong 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 Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to run the early intervention support program in more than 60 Maribyrnong and Brimbank 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 intention of the program is to support young people at risk while they are still in the school environment,” he said. “Once they drop out they are much more difficult to find and to help.”
The program was one of the key recommendations of the Victorian government’s Suicide Prevention Taskforce in 1997. As well as targeted projects, it directly assists young people through counselling, school equipment or transport costs.
Mr Maillet added: “These children are already vulnerable due to other risk factors and it has been a very successful program for at least 10 years. 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 and activities 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.”
