The Youth Pathway Program funded by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) works with clients at risk or experiencing homelessness. Utilising a client centred and collaborative approach to co-case management, Path 2 Change (P2C) supports young people aged 15 – 24 in collaboration with Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) to ensure a holistic approach to support.
P2C responds to individual barriers young people may be experiencing by targeted case planning and developing pathways into work experience, courses, education, training and
employment.
Staff working with Dylan from the YI program who was in Out of Home Care, Kinship Care placement. Over COVID the client became very depressed and dropped out of school and wouldn’t leave the home or engage with staff. Path 2 Change staff (who never give up!) identified their love for music and organised three music lessons with Hip Hop beats ad music.
Dylan was supported by staff for the first lesson but has been now attending independently. Dylan’s confidence has increased and is ‘getting out of the house!’ which includes enrolling for Music Production with TAFE in early 2023.
Youth Initiative (YI) provides support to young people leaving statutory out-of-home care
(OOHC), who are identified as being vulnerable to or at risk of experiencing homelessness on
exit from care. The program aims to build the long-term capacity and resilience of young people to permanently divert them from the homelessness service system.
YI assists young people to develop strong personal networks and skills to navigate multiple
adult support service systems and increase their capacity to manage crises and change as they transition to independence. Support is also provided to engage or re-engage with education and/or employment and learn the daily living skills required to transition into independent living.
Pathway Wheels Program (PWP) supports young people experiencing housing vulnerability and homelessness, who are often facing significant barriers to education, training, employment and community participation. Many young people engaged with the program do not have access to family or community support to complete supervised driving hours independently. Through a client-centred approach, P2C assists young people to work towards obtaining their driver licence, increasing their independence and access to opportunities.
PWP provides access to volunteer driving mentors who support young people to gain supervised driving hours and build confidence behind the wheel. Through a partnership with PCYC’s Driver Licensing Access Program (DLAP), young people are also supported to access the Safer Drivers Course, Hazard Perception Test and Provisional Licence Test.
By reducing transport-related barriers, PWP helps young people achieve their licensing goals and strengthen pathways to education, training and employment.
