Section 1 - Overview of Reconnect
1.1 What is Reconnect?
Reconnect is a community based early intervention program for young people aged 12 to 18 years, who are homeless or at the risk of homelessness, and their families. Reconnect - Newly Arrived Youth Specialists target young people aged 12 to 21 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have arrived in Australia in the previous five years. Reconnect services provide counselling, mediation, group work and practical support to the whole family, to help break the cycle of homelessness. Service providers 'buy in' other services to meet the individual needs of clients, such as specialised mental health services.
Reconnect participants may be self-referred or referred from a range of sources, including:
- schools, education and training organisations;
- parents or family;
- community agencies;
- Centrelink
- juvenile justice;
- police;
- accommodation services;
- specialist services, such as English language centres; and
- state/territory community service departments.
There are currently 107 Reconnect services operating in urban, rural and remote communities across Australia.
Reconnect fits with FaHCSIA's broader objectives, specifically, youth are supported, recognised and encouraged to participate in the community, resulting in:
- improved capacity of individual young people to make transitions that enable participation; and
- better systemic understanding and more positive perceptions of young people and their circumstances.
Reconnect providers establish and maintain links with other agencies. Key stakeholders such as Centrelink and local homelessness services are integral to improving service delivery and providing positive outcomes for young people.
1.2 What is the focus of Reconnect?
The identified target group for Reconnect is young people aged 12 to 18 years who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and their families. Reconnect - Newly Arrived Youth Specialists target young people aged 12 to 21 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have arrived in Australia in the previous five years.
1.3 What are the planned outcomes for Reconnect?
Homeless young people or those at risk of homelessness improve their level of engagement with family, work, education, training and the community.
1.4 Funding 2009 - 2011
In the 2007 Budget, the Australian Government announced a total of $85 million to extend funding Reconnect for a further four years. Funding is available to 30 June 2011.