The new Youth Conversations project will capture how 1000 young people across the Great South Coast feel about their education, community and future employment opportunities.
YACVic Rural and Beyond the Bell Great South Coast has welcomed funding for the project that will directly engage young people in the region. Beyond the Bell will work with young people to co-design the project and Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) will train 40 facilitators aged 19-25 to engage with 1000 young people aged 12-19.
The project aims to identify strategies to improve services and support for educational attainment in the region.
YACVIC Great South Coast rural development co-ordinator Karen Walsh said it was an opportunity to be part of a region-wide project which focused on co-design and the engagement of young people. "YACVIC brings expertise and resources to this project, so the Youth Conversations project partnership is a win-win," she said.
It will culminate in a report highlighting the input of 1000 young people with their aspirations, ideas and thoughts about education, training and jobs.
"We hope this will inform the future work of Beyond the Bell and our stakeholders and partners so we continue to work together for the best endeavours of our young people," said Beyond the Bell executive officer Adele Kenneally.
The 1000 young people will be interviewed this year.
Ms Kenneally said young people from all six municipalities in the Great Southern Coast covered by Beyond the Bell would be engaged as part of Youth Conversations.
"As a community, we need to ensure we identify the best ways to connect young people to educational opportunities and other support services, so they can develop into happy and productive members of their communities, and enjoy the benefits of a strong national economy," Ms Kenneally said.
Member for Wannon Dan Tehan this week announced $49,435 funding from the Coalition Government's Building Better Regions Fund for the project.
Mr Tehan said he was excited to see the funding being used in the region to help improve educational services and outcomes.
"It is important to get young people engaged in the services they use, and work towards solutions developed by and for young people in the regions," Mr Tehan said.
"As a community, we need to ensure that we identify the best ways to connect young people to educational opportunities and other support services, so they can develop into happy and productive members of their communities, and enjoy the benefits of a strong national economy."