Reconnect

The Reconnect Program is the Australian Government’s long standing youth homelessness prevention program, currently in its 25th year of operation.

 

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About Reconnect

Reconnect is a community-based, early intervention and prevention program for young people aged 12 to 18 years (or 12 to 21 years in the case of newly arrived youth) who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and their families.

Reconnect helps around 7,000 young people each year and is delivered by 70 organisations across 101 locations nationally. The aim of Reconnect is to prevent youth homelessness by intervening early with young people to stabilise and improve their housing situation and their level of engagement with their:

• family
• education
• training
• employment
• local community. 

Reconnect services help young people and their families to break the cycle of homelessness by: 

• providing counselling, group work, mediation and practical support to the whole family 
• working collaboratively with schools and a range of services to make sure all clients presenting to or being referred to Reconnect receive assistance
• referring to more appropriate services, such as specialised mental health services.

Are you a

Find a Reconnect Service

Find a Reconnect service in your state or territory:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Review of the Reconnect Program - 2024

The Reconnect Program review final report is now available.

Nous Group, on behalf of the Department of Social Services, conducted an independent review of the Reconnect Program. The review investigated the appropriateness, effectiveness, and efficiency of Reconnect and was finalised in June 2024.

The review heard from over 730 participants including Reconnect clients, Reconnect providers, young people with lived experience of homelessness, representatives from state and territory governments, representatives from the housing and homelessness and community services sectors, and academics.

The Department of Social Services thanks those who participated in consultations and provided insights to inform the review.

Resources

For more information on the Reconnect Program or the review, email reconnect.policy@dss.gov.au