About 16,000 Wyndham and Hobsons Bay students could lose access to education, training and employment programs unless the state government plugs a multi-million-dollar hole in the WynBay Local Learning and Employment Network’s budget.
The advocacy group will cease to exist by the end of the year unless it receives more state government funding, after the federal budget bailed on ongoing funding.
If the network closes, it will hamper students’ ability to access learning and employment programs such as the Australian Apprenticeships Access Program and the Alternative Pathways Program, which help young people access alternative education services.
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Network executive director Dallian D’Cruz said one in five young people in the region left school early, with Wyndham and Hobsons Bay schools reporting that up to 17 per cent of their students were at risk of disengaging from education.
Mr D’Cruz said that about 16,000 young people in Wyndham and Hobsons Bay accessed programs that the network facilitated.
He said ‘WynBay’ had lost $2.3 million in funding.
“The group that has been hardest hit by this federal budget is people aged 14 to 24,” he said. “The government’s policy is earn or learn, but they have cut funding for these programs that helped young people find jobs.”
Mr D’Cruz and Victoria’s 30 other Local Learning and Employment Networks are calling on the state government to provide the missing funding.
He has asked shadow Treasurer and Tarneit MP Tim Pallas and Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury to make pre- election commitments to make up the shortfall.
Mr Pallas did not answer questions about whether Labor would provide the funding, instead calling on the state government to act.
“Is Denis Napthine going to let this vital support program, which helps young people get into jobs, just wither and die?” he asked.
Mr Elsbury did not respond to requests for comment before the Star Weekly deadline.
