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.

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Find a Reconnect Service

Find a Reconnect service in your state or territory:

Review of the Reconnect Program - 2024

Nous Group is conducting an independent review of the Reconnect Program (the Review) on behalf of the Department of Social Services.

The Review is an important opportunity to understand and investigate the appropriateness, effectiveness, and efficiency of the Reconnect Program.

Throughout the Review, Nous Group will be gathering views from:

  • Reconnect clients (current and former) and their support persons
  • young people with lived experience in youth homelessness
  • Reconnect Service Providers
  • state and territory government policy and program staff
  • housing and homelessness organisations 
  • community services organisations
  • academics. 

To inform the Review, Nous Group is conducting surveys with key stakeholders, and current or former Reconnect clients.

Survey for key stakeholders

As part of the Reconnect Review, a survey for key stakeholders opened on 9 April 2024 and has now closed.

The aim of this survey was to explore interactions and experiences with the Reconnect program, identify intersecting and aligned activities in the broader sector and service system, and explore opportunities for the Reconnect program and other government responses to better support young people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness.

This survey was designed to gather views from:

  • Reconnect Service Providers
  • state and territory government program and policy staff
  • housing and homelessness organisations 
  • community services organisations
  • academics.

We thank everyone who contributed to this survey and provided valuable insights to inform the Review.

Survey for Reconnect Program clients

A survey for current Reconnect clients, or those who have engaged with the Reconnect Program over the last 12 months, is now available. If you are a young person who is currently receiving Reconnect support, or has in the last 12 months, speak with your Reconnect service on how you can have your say.

Resources

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

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