Manningham Council is calling on the State Government to continue to support for the School Focused Youth Service (SFYS) for vulnerable young people in our community, with the future funding of the program remaining uncertain.

The SFYS first began in 1998 through the Department of Education and Early Childhood and supports staff and training for schools and agencies throughout Victoria to deliver assistance to students aged 10 – 18 years.

The program aims to provide a co-ordinated approach between schools, welfare and community agencies in assisting young people in their transition to adulthood.

Like other local governments responsible for SFYS programs in Victoria, Manningham Council is very disappointed that State Government funding will cease on 30 December 2015.

Manningham Council has been in a partnership arrangement with Boroondara Council to operate the SFYS at a local level since 2013 and focus on areas of mental health and wellbeing, relationships, family, school engagement and learning.

Over the past 12 months, the SFYS has equipped 400 staff with the training needed to work with vulnerable young people across 70 different schools and agencies across the Boroondara / Manningham region.

Manningham Mayor, Cr Paul McLeish said, “The SFYS has provided valuable opportunities and resources to strengthen partnerships between schools and agencies so as to improve opportunities for vulnerable young people in the municipality.”

“Our young people and their welfare is of the highest priority and any decisions that impact on them, need to be made with great care and with an eye to the future.”

The SFYS program is currently under review by the State Government and Manningham Council will continue to advocate for the ongoing need of this program.”