Barwon Child, Youth & Family welcomes $2.8 million commitment for The Geelong Project

Barwon Child, Youth & Family (BCYF) welcomes the investment of $2.8 million over two years for the expansion of The Geelong Project (TGP),  as part of the 2018/2019 Victorian State budget.

Mr Sandy Morrison, CEO of BCYF said this funding will make an even greater difference in the lives of young people and their families in the Geelong community.

“The announcement from the Victorian Government that $2.8 million will be spent on The Geelong Project, will enable us to expand into four more schools in the Geelong region, making seven schools in total, to further support and provide young people with an opportunity for good life outcomes” Mr Morrison said.

The Geelong Project, led by BCYF, is a partnership approach with Swinburne University, Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network (GRLLEN), Northern Bay Secondary College, Geelong High and Newcomb Secondary College. TGP delivers a collaborative early intervention approach that has produced unprecedented results in preventing ‘at risk’ young students from becoming homeless, disengaging in their education and leaving school early.

“Earlier this year we released the results from the first three years of The Geelong Project, which showed a 40% reduction in the number of homeless young students in Geelong and a 20% reduction in early school leaving by at risk students in the pilot schools, an incredible outcome.” Mr Morrison said.

“We know we have a much better chance of reducing adverse outcomes for our clients when we intervene early. We are thrilled that the State Government shares the same confidence as us with TGP by allocating this additional funding and in the outcomes that TGP is both delivering and achieving. We also are very thankful for the support provided by the local members and our partners in advocating for this important investment in the region, and also to Give Where You Live and the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation who have assisted with the development and funding of The Geelong Project along the way, with GWYL in particular for seed funding of TGP pilot funding over 5 years ago” Mr Morrison added.

BCYF would like to acknowledge Lisa Neville MP, Christine Couzens MP, John Eren MP and Gayle Tierney MP for their ongoing support and advocacy of The Geelong Project and which has resulted in this incredible outcome for the community of Geelong.