Policy
This policy sets out key actions to deliver additional educational support for young people within Victoria’s youth justice system.
This policy recognises that:
- additional support is needed to enable young people within the youth justice system to overcome the often-complex barriers to engagement in education and histories of trauma
- positive relationships between educators and young people are central to empowering young people within the youth justice system to reach their potential.
Details
Many young people within the youth justice system (both in custody and in the community) have complex histories of trauma and face significant barriers to engagement in education.
As a result, schools/settings are required to provide additional support to ensure these young people are engaged in education and supported to reach their potential
Key actions for schools are set out in the Guidance tab and summarised in 2 checklists:
In summary, to support young people within the youth justice system to engage in education, schools/settings will:
- appoint a learning mentor
- establish a Student Support Group
- develop and review an Individual Education Plan
- ensure learning environments are positive, culturally safe and free from any stigma
- monitor engagement and triage for support
- provide support for a student who is in custody (in partnership with Parkville College).
These actions are to be taken to support young people:
- in custody who are sentenced or on remand for an alleged offence
- in community, who are
- attending a government school or funded flexible learning option
- have been sentenced on a criminal matter and/or diverted from custody on Intensive Bail/Youth Control Orders and Community-Based Orders.
Given the high numbers of young people in youth justice who are in Out of Home Care and/or who are Aboriginal, these actions align as far as possible with the requirements set out in Out-of-Home-Care Education Commitment: A Partnering Agreement and Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan .
Additionally, young people in youth justice are also identified through a state-wide monitoring process, supporting the department’s regional teams to monitor enrolment and attendance and prioritise support. Regional teams may reach out to schools in the event that attendance rates are falling, to arrange an enrolment for an unenrolled young person, and/or to offer support to address complex barriers to engagement.
Other initiatives
Other initiatives to support the educational engagement of young people in youth justice include:
Related policies
- Behaviour – Students
- Individual Education Plans
- Koorie Education
- Navigator Program
- School Wide Positive Behaviour Support
- Student Engagement
- Student Support Groups
- Supporting Students in Out-of-Home Care
Relevant legislation
Reviewed 06 June 2024