BCYF awarded state recognition

A youth homelessness project spearheaded by Barwon Child Youth and Family (BCYF) was awarded the Victorian Homelessness Achievement Award last week for its outstanding work in preventative services.

The Geelong Project – which intervenes with young people at risk of disengaging from or leaving school, disconnecting from family, becoming homeless and entering the justice system – won the ‘Excellence In Ending Homelessness – Young People’s award’ at the Victorian Homeless Conference in Melbourne.

Since its inception 10 years ago, the project has assisted youths at Northern Bay College, Newcomb Secondary College, Geelong High School, Western Heights Secondary College, North Geelong Secondary College, Lara Secondary College and Grovedale Secondary College.

BCYF manager of youth services Mandy Baxter said the success of The Geelong Project was a testament to the hard work and dedication of its like-minded partners, including Swinburne University, headspace Geelong and the Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN).

“There are around 200 young people on the BCYF waitlist on any given night, many of them homeless and/or sleeping rough.

“This recognition of the Victorian Homelessness Achievement Award, along with the significant reduction of homelessness in those who have engaged with The Geelong Project, highlights the benefits and outcomes for young people and their families when we intervene early and with a solution-focused approach.”

In May 2018, the state government invested $2.8 million in the project across a two-year period, allowing it to expand from three to seven schools.

Between 2013 and 2016, clients coming through the Geelong Youth entry point were reduced from an average of about 230 per year to a new baseline of about 130 – a 40 per cent drop.