Nationals candidate for Murray Plains Brett Hosking, REDHS chief executive Mary Manescu and CCLLEN executive officer Jane Reid at the hospital during the recent Youth Take Over program.
The Campaspe Cohuna Local Learning and Employment Network — and all the young people who benefit from its programs — face a bleak 2027 unless the Victorian Government commits to long-term core funding.
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CCLLEN executive officer Jane Reid warned funding vital to support the local partnerships that help young people stay engaged in education, explore careers and prepare for work was at risk.
Ms Reid is sounding the alarm bells as LLENs across Victoria plan for changes to funding from 2027.
She said without financial certainty those organisations would not have a clear strategy to retain experienced staff and continue working with schools, employers and community partners to meet local needs.
“Our core funding ends on December 31 and the new program only funds specified activities — and removes core funding for LLENs’ broader co-ordination role,” Ms Reid said.
“Which means procurement remains unresolved, making planning for next year difficult, and that gap in funding for that broader role remains, regardless of the tender outcome.
“CCLLEN brings schools, employers, training providers, services and local government together to support young people.
“This includes helping partners respond to gaps in support, building aspirations and connecting education with mentoring, wellbeing and community activities.
“And that’s what we were set up to do and that’s what is now up in the air.”
Students at the completion of the 2026 Youth Take Over project between Rochester Secondary College and REDHS, which was co-ordinated by CCLLEN.
Most recently CCLLEN has worked with Rochester and Elmore District Health Service through its Youth Take Over partnerships, which saw Rochester Secondary College students in an extended hands-on training program at the hospital.
It helped 30 young people get their licences through the TAC L2P learner driver program, and a further 152 local students were supported through VET transport.
CCLLEN also co-ordinates the Campaspe VET Cluster, helping schools and training providers organise access to vocational courses.
Ms Reid said these programs drew on different funding sources, and CCLLEN’s concern was losing core funding would reduce its capacity to maintain partnerships, support other organisations and respond when young people needed help beyond an individual program.
She said she, and other LLENs, were calling for $10.85 million a year in ongoing core funding from January 1 through an initial agreement of at least three years.
“This proposal would maintain our statewide coverage, local governance and public accountability and a funding commitment and transition arrangements are needed before current agreements expire,” Ms Reid said.
“Neighbourhood and community houses face related funding pressures and Neighbourhood Houses Victoria’s submission, updated in August, reports co-ordination funding has fallen behind wage costs, leaving houses to raise money for basic operating expenses.
“We are not talking huge numbers here, but we are talking about a huge impact in young lives — and we want that impact to be a positive, not negative.
“A lot of our work happens behind the scenes. We know the local schools, employers and services, and help them work together. That is what LLENs were established to do, and it needs reliable funding.
“In a rural or regional community, getting to a course or workplace can be the first hurdle. For another young person, it might be finding a mentor or the confidence to try something new. Our local partnerships help make those things possible.
“We are asking the same government that is deciding future program funding to support our wider work. That puts us in a difficult position when speaking up for our communities could be seen as arguing for a contract. We still have a responsibility to explain the funding gap.
“The pressures on neighbourhood and community houses are another reason to look at how government funds local organisations. Grants for individual projects help, but communities also need sustained investment in the people who keep that work going.”
