Reconnect program

Reconnect is designed to support Victorians experiencing disadvantage.

Who can access Reconnect?

Learners referred to Reconnect include the following groups of people:

young people aged between 17 and 19 years not engaged in education or training for 6 months or more (less than 8 hours per week)
mature participants aged between 20 and 64 years, unemployed for 6 months or more (less than 8 hours per week) and not engaged in education or training for 6 months or more (less than 8 hours per week)
young people impacted by the justice system: young people aged between 17 and 24 years, who have been, or are currently on, Youth Justice Orders
asylum seekers aged between 17 and 64 years: individuals or dependents of individuals who:

hold any humanitarian, protection, or refugee visa in Australia, or
have applied for a humanitarian, protection, or refugee visa and hold a bridging visa for this purpose, or
have made an application under s.417 or s.48b of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) which is yet to be determined and hold a bridging visa.

out-of-home care: a person aged between 17 and 64 years, who has a current or previous experience with Child Protection.

Other – Additional groups and priority cohorts: Additional target groups whose inclusion is in alignment with the overarching program intent of improving access and increasing choice in pathways through education and employment to improve the chance of breaking the cycle of disadvantage. Such additional groups might include, for instance, people experiencing family violence, young people in insecure housing, young people who have left school in the last 12 months and who have urgent need of assistance, those unable to access a provider in their LGA, people aged 64 or older, and those needing to reskill due to changes in their circumstance.

Support for learners

The Reconnect program is intended to improve a person’s chance of breaking the cycle of disadvantage by creating equity, improving access and increasing choice in pathways through education and employment.

Reconnect is funded to support participants by providing wraparound supports and interventions that aim to address non-vocational barriers that impact on their ability to reach their participation potential. Reconnect providers can offer a range of supports which may include:

counselling and mentoring
housing and accommodation services referral
mental health support referral
foundation skills
employability skills
careers information, planning and advice.

Reconnecting Victorians with educational and employment opportunities

As part of the Reconnect program, Reconnect providers (select TAFEs, Learn Locals and community service organisations):

undertake outreach and engagement activities to locate, engage and attract disengaged people experiencing disadvantage back into a learning environment
assess the learning and non-learning needs of Reconnect participants and develop an agreed learning plan to transition participants to further training or employment
coordinate and provide access to support services that help participants start and stay in training.
design and support a pathway out of the program into further training, study or employment.