Background

Informed by extensive consultation with young people and families, schools, community agencies and service providers, the Draft Connect & Thrive: A Plan for Young People in Hume 2022-2026 provides the strategic direction for the delivery of services and programs for young people aged 6-24 years over the next five years.

This plan aligns to the goals of the Hume 0-24 Framework and represents a new way of thinking about how Council delivers services and programs for this age group. It places young people and their families at the centre of this thinking, focusing on the critical supports required for young people as they transition through key life stages, from early years to primary school, primary school to secondary school, and secondary school to higher education and work.

The vision for young people in Hume outlined in the plan is that:

"All young people in Hume are connected and thrive. They are valued, healthy and safe, and have access to experiences that maximise their potential."
"Council will be a trusted service partner for young people and families dedicated to providing opportunities for them to make informed decisions as they navigate life’s transitions."

Key priority actions

There are five key priority actions outlined in the plan that will guide the strategic direction of the Youth Engagement & Pathway Unit over the next five years. These include:

Council will continue to provide and enhance welcoming, interesting, multipurpose centres for young people and their families, while also working to provide youth-friendly environments in other venues, facilities, and spaces in the community. This will be underpinned by best-practice, youth-informed frameworks for these spaces which will ensure that they are accessible, flexible, safe, and responsive to the unique characteristics of young people and the communities to which they belong.

Council will bring together a diverse collection of relevant youth and community information and resources for young people and their families, and make these available at centres, libraries and digitally. These resources will improve navigation across needed services and supports, while also providing opportunities for young people to explore interests, identity, and issues affecting their lives.

Council will deliver and partner with key stakeholders to provide innovative, interest-driven, and experiential programs that support social health and wellbeing, connection, creativity, life-skill development, educational achievement, and employment pathways. Additionally, Council will establish a range of culturally safe and responsive programs that bring young people and families together to respond to their needs and interests, while fostering strong and healthy relationships.

Council will develop new partnerships and bolster existing ones to strengthen the local youth sector. This will be achieved by facilitating information sharing, supporting service coordination, and sharing available resources. Council will ensure that young people have opportunities for their voices to be heard and listened to, their rights respected, their needs and interests represented and have opportunities to be involved in civic engagement and decisions that affect them.

Council will develop and deliver a suite of new, targeted programs and resources that will support successful transitions for young people and their families. This will include programs and resources that support the transition from primary to secondary school, secondary school to work or further education, the move from dependence upon family to relative independence and identify formation. This will include programs and initiatives focussed on developing young people’s capabilities, and strengthening links between schools, training providers and businesses.

How you can participate

Feedback on Draft Connect & Thrive was due by close of business Monday 15 November.

commenting on the Draft Connect &Thrive Document
making an online submission
emailing submission to contactus@hume.vic.gov.au