Youth Support Coordinators (YSCs)
This initiative is a joint initiative between Department of Communities, Department of Education and the Arts, and Department of Employment and Training, and is an integral component of the Queensland Government’s Education and Training Reforms for the Future.
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:
- casework—including individual and group sessions
- community development activities
- community education activities.
The mix of services provided by the coordinators depends on the requirements of each local community as set out in District Youth Achievement Plans. These collaborative plans are developed locally, outline local priorities and needs, and play a vital role in guiding the work that the coordinators undertake. They also provide guidance about which local schools require the greatest assistance and support from them.
Community-based organisations employ 113 YSCs across Queensland to work in or with schools and TAFEs.
YSC evaluation
A three phase evaluation of the YSC initiative will commence in early 2007.
- Phase 1 (January – June 2007) will investigate stakeholder satisfaction with initial outcomes and report on successful case studies and potential improvements.
- Phase 2 (July – December 2007) will undertake in-depth investigation of key findings from Phase 1.
- Phase 3 (June 2007 – October 2008) will report on the contribution of the YSC initiative to retaining ‘at risk’ young people in school, training or employment. Phase 3 will inform government decisions about the future of the YSCI beyond the present funding cycle ending in June 2009
The Office for Youth will conduct the evaluation with the support of the Performance Measurement and Evaluation Committee in the Department of Education Training and the Arts.
During Phase 1, the views about the initiative of YSC’s, schools, training providers, YSC clients, community youth services and regional staff of the Department of Education, Training and the Arts and the Department of Communities will be surveyed with web-based questionnaires.
An interim Phase 1 report will be produced in March 2007 and the final Phase 1 report will be completed in June 2007 for consideration by the Department of Education, Training and the Arts and the Department of Communities.
Last updated: 26 June 2008.
