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Youth CONNECT
Innovation for impact
Youth CONNECT is our innovative program currently supporting 300 young Queenslanders aged 15 to 25 in Townsville, Logan, Gold Coast and Ipswich who have recently left residential care, foster care or the youth justice system.
In a world-first, this six-year program (three groups over three years) is being funded by social impact investors, and backed by the Queensland Government under a new social benefit bond. This program is designed to help participants achieve stable housing, employment, education and work readiness and personal development - including cultural strength building.
This program is now full - we can't accept any more referrals.
Youth CONNECT progress
2022 marks the 4th year of this custom-created 6-year program, which is starting to achieve significant results.
The first cohort completed their three-year program, and successfully exceeded program performance benchmarks.
Our 2nd and final cohorts continue to progress well through the program - an even more significant achievement considering the additional challenges the continuing COVID-19 pandemic is presenting to young people.
Program design
Young people engaged in the Youth CONNECT program are supported by a case manager and support workers to identify their needs and goals and to create a personalised plan that focuses on:
- Obtaining and maintaining stable housing
- Engaging or re-engaging in employment or education
- Other needs such as engaging in counselling, health management, parenting courses and building social skills and healthy relationships.
Youth CONNECT’s goal is to ensure young people leaving care have:
- safe and stable accommodation
- fulfilling employment and/or education opportunities
- plan for ongoing personal development
- meaningful social connections.
To achieve this, a young person moves through four program stages to allow enough time to build, practice, and demonstrate the skills required to live independently and successfully.
The program stages are Engage, Build, Practice and Demonstrate.