Youth Insearch apply for government grant, still seeking solid funding commitment

It submitted its youth support program to the Try, Test and Learn fund, which is aimed at “young carers, young parents and young students at risk of long-term unemployment”.

“Our experience has shown that young people at risk of long term unemployment have had traumatic experiences that deeply impact their thinking and consequently their behaviour,” Youth Insearch CEO Heath Ducker said.

“[The program’s] healing process allows the young people to re-evaluate their mind set and establish a new positive life plan.

“This in turn has a significant impact on person’s willingness and capacity to engage in education, training and employment.”

There are still a number of assessment steps the application must go through. Government documents indicate success applicants will be informed in mid-May, but there is no indication of how much funding they will receive.

Youth Insearch will also apply for up to $150,000 grant under the Community Capacity Building fund, but is still seeking the government to give it a rock-solid commitment of $400,000 a year.

“Our preference is to have some funding commit outside of the grant, as has been done in the past,” Mr Ducker said.