Youth at Risk has been the first area to be addressed as part of MCF’s new strategic funding priorities.

A pool of funds was created utilising funds from a number of donor sub-funds with a commitment to this area, as well as from MCF’s general fund.

In order to develop our knowledge of the issues affecting young people, we brought together a working group of organisations with expertise in youth policy and on the ground service delivery.

The working group agreed that we should focus on initiatives that expand opportunities for disadvantaged young people who have, or are in danger of, dropping out of the education system, are unable to access vocational training, obtain employment or otherwise unable to reach their full potential.

With help from the working group, MCF ran a donor information session, titled Exploring Positive Futures for Young People at Risk. This forum provided an overview of issues facing young people, and showcased five projects active in the areas of employment, education, training and community involvement pathways for marginalised young people.

Following this session proposals were sought from those organisations which had presented at the forum, for projects addressing these issues. On the recommendation of the MCF grants committee, the board approved three of the projects.

Through implementation of the youth at risk initiative, it has become apparent that the youth employment and training sector is fragmented, resulting in difficulties for young people navigating the system, and preventing them from moving easily between programs.

Together with a range or other community sector, government and philanthropic organisations, known as the Youth Collaboration, MCF has now become involved in the development and funding of a project which is designed to improve the way that young people, particularly those leaving school early, can make a successful transition to economic independence.

Youth researchers between 15 and 19 years of age have been trained and employed at three sites - Braybrook-Maidstone in the Western suburbs, Frankston and Shepparton - to gather feedback from other young people on their experience of transition pathways before and after they leave school. The information that they collect will be used to inform local service providers and government departments about how they can be more responsive to young people’s need to navigate service systems and access support programs.

The report of the phase of the project Youth Voice: Peer Research into Youth Transitions, was launched by the Education Minister Bronwyn Pike on 30 November 2007 at Braybrook Community Centre. The second phase of the project is being planned for implementation in 2008.

• Click here to view the Youth Voice:  Peer Research into YOuth Transitions  Report in PDF Format.