GOTAFE secures funding for Education First Youth Foyer
GOTAFE has successfully secured funding to construct an Education First Youth Foyer in Wangaratta.
The Education First Youth Foyer will combine affordable medium-term accommodation with education and training, empowering young people at risk of homelessness to complete their studies and successfully transition from school into work.
GOTAFE CEO Travis Heeney said, “We are very excited to receive funding for the Wangaratta Education First Youth Foyer project”.
"“GOTAFE is committed to improving the lives of young people in Wangaratta. The Education First Youth Foyer will help break the cycle of homelessness and increase the number of young people completing education qualifications and gaining productive employment,” he added."
The Wangaratta Education First Youth Foyer has been funded as part of the Victorian Government's $50 million Youth Housing Capital Grants program announced this week.
The Education First Youth Foyer will be located opposite to the GOTAFE campus. This will provide participants with easy access to education, public transport, employment and local services.
The Education First Youth Foyer will be managed under a formal joint working arrangement between GOTAFE, NESAY Inc., Uniting Housing (Victoria) Limited and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
"“The Education First Youth Foyers have been proven to inspire and equip young people with all that they need to take their next steps in life – achieving an education, a job and decent housing. To have this model expand to Wangaratta is exciting news.”"
"“This Youth Foyer will make a difference to the lives of so many young people across the Wangaratta region. Providing young people at risk of homelessness with safe and stable long-term accommodation will give them the confidence they need to be able to get on with their education and studies and make a successful transition into work.”"
"“The Education First Youth Foyer provides young people in our communities the safety, resources and opportunities they need to thrive. We are very excited to be a part of this housing and support model and the opportunity for change it brings”."
The project will bring 40 jobs to Wangaratta and is expected to deliver $40.6M net benefits to the Wangaratta community over a 20-year timeframe, however the ongoing impacts to participants, the community and the local economy would far exceed this.
The Education First Youth Foyer model is based on the principle that education is key to providing a pathway out of disadvantage for young people, and stable housing is a means of ensuring young people can fully commit to their education.
While living at the Youth Foyer, young people will be supported to undertake education, training and employment to expand their capabilities.
The Education First Youth Foyer model is based on the principle that education is key to providing a pathway out of disadvantage for young people, and stable housing is a means of ensuring young people can fully commit to their education.
While living at the Youth Foyer, young people will be supported to undertake education, training and employment to expand their capabilities.
GOTAFE has operated the Education First Youth Foyer in Shepparton for over five years and in that time, over 200 young people have been supported to complete their studies.
This project is funded as part of the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build - Victoria’s largest ever investment in social and affordable housing.