Queensland Government
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
Home > Community Services > Youth > Support services for young people > Youth Support Coordinators (YSCs)

Youth Support Coordinators (YSCs)

History of the Youth Support Coordinator Initiative

The Youth Support Coordinator Initiative (YSCI) was first established by Department of Communities (DoC) in July 1997, with 13 Youth Support Coordinators (YSCs) employed to work with 40 participating schools to provide an early intervention and prevention program for young people at risk of homelessness and disengagement from school.

In 2003, under the Education and Training Reforms for the Future, the YSCI was expanded to 110 YSCs and 3 YSC Hub Facilitators to support at risk secondary school students to stay at school or make a transition to further education or employment.

Current Initiative

The Youth Support Coordinator Initiative (YSCI) is a joint collaboration between Department of Communities and Department of Education and Training. It is a statewide program aimed at supporting young people, aged 14 to 17 years who are at risk of disengaging, or have recently disengaged from education, to move into and through the Senior Phase of Learning.

Youth Support Coordinators (YSCs) work with some of Queensland's most vulnerable and troubled young people to address their risks and needs, and support them to stay engaged in education/training and transition to further education, training or employment.

The YSCI will contribute to Queensland's commitment to improve outcomes for all young people in educational settings including:

  • increasing young people's participation in education and training
  • supporting the attainment of Year 12 or an equivalent qualification
  • improving successful transitions from school to further education, training or employment
  • promoting social inclusion and reducing educational disadvantage of young people.

Youth Support Coordinators assist young people still connected to education and/or training to move into and through the senior phase of learning. Their role within schools, Technical and Further Education Institutes (TAFEs), and communities can include:

  • Individual casework
  • Group work
  • Community projects including community education and community development activities.

After a review of the YSCI, from 2011 the positions funded to deliver YSCI services will include:

  • 105 Youth Support Coordinators (YSCs)
  • two YSC Hub Facilitators
  • seven Regional YSCs

In 2010, there were 5524 instances of direct support provided to young people, 793 groups were provided supporting 16 405 young people and 554 community projects were undertaken.

Service agreements for the new YSCI are for the period 1 July 2011 to 31 December 2013.

New program guidelines are available that assist YSCI funded organisations to provide YSCI service delivery. These guidelines are available below.

YSCI Key Documents

YSCI Data Reports

YSCI Key Links