The Les Twentyman Foundation has welcomed a significant expansion of early intervention support in schools, with the Victorian Government announcing a new initiative that will see more Outreach Youth Workers embedded directly within school communities.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll was joined by Katie Hall and Tim Richardson, Parliamentary Secretary for Violence Reduction, at the Foundation’s head office to announce the Early Intervention Officers in Schools (EIOS) program, which will place youth workers across 16 Victorian schools.
The expansion reflects a long-held vision of our Founder Les Twentyman, who spent decades calling for youth workers to be embedded in schools to support young people early, before they disengage from education or become involved in the justice system.
Over recent months, the Foundation has worked closely with the Victorian Government and the Department of Education, sharing the success of its existing in-school programs, including our School Outreach Support Service (SOSS) and Positive Futures programs, delivered by Outreach Youth Workers who support young people at school, at home, and in the community.
As part of the program’s development, the Deputy Premier visited the Foundation’s SOSS pilot, to see firsthand how outreach youth work helps keep students engaged in learning while also supporting families facing complex challenges.
Under the new EIOS initiative, the Les Twentyman Foundation will be a delivery partner, with additional Outreach Youth Workers to be placed across participating schools, strengthening the ability to respond early to issues affecting young people and improving community safety outcomes.
The Foundation said the announcement is an important step forward and recognition that early intervention, delivered through trusted relationships and consistent outreach support, plays a critical role in keeping young people connected to education and on positive pathways.
The Les Twentyman Foundation thanks the Victorian Government for its support and for recognising the impact of early intervention programs already being delivered on the ground, with the EIOS program set to roll out across selected schools this year.
