CCLLEN executive officer Jane Reid has warned funding vital to support the local partnerships which help young people stay engaged in education, explore careers and prepare for work was at risk.
Ms Reid is sounding the alarm bells as LLENs across Victoria plan for changes to funding from 2027.
She said without financial certainty, those organisations would not have a clear strategy to retain experienced staff and continue working with schools, employers and community partners to meet local needs.
“Our core funding ends on December 31 and the new program only funds specified activities — and removes core funding for LLENs’ broader co-ordination role,” Ms Reid said.
“Which means procurement remains unresolved, making planning for next year difficult, and that gap in funding for that broader role remains, regardless of the tender outcome.
“CCLLEN brings schools, employers, training providers, services and local government together to support young people.
“This includes helping partners respond to gaps in support, building aspirations and connecting education with mentoring, wellbeing and community activities.
“And that’s what we were set up to do and that’s what is now up in the air.”
Nationals candidate for Murray Plains Brett Hosking has joined the campaign to secure the long-term funding the LLENs need.
Mr Hosking said his wife Jane had been chief executive at the North Central LLEN for the past eight years, giving him a very up-close and personal understanding of the value of the programs in regional Victoria and the importance of a secure funding future.
He said he knew young people who had “benefited enormously” through their connection with LLENs and it would be a disaster if the program’s full potential “was sacrificed for the sake of such a small amount of money”.
“If we wanted to dig a hole in Melbourne, there would be an endless cashflow made immediately available, but when regional Victoria wants to get something positive, proactive and truly life-changing organised, our citycentric Labor government insists on ignoring us,” Mr Hosking said.
“I can assure you with the Nationals in government after November 28, the money the LLENs need will be high on my agenda,” he said.
The Echuca Moama Beacon Foundation has its own independent committee of management and engages CCLLEN as a critical partner to deliver its Real Futures Program.
It has also helped 30 young people get their licences through the TAC L2P learner driver program, and a further 152 local students were supported through VET transport.
CCLLEN also co-ordinates the Campaspe VET Cluster, helping schools and training providers organise access to vocational courses.
Ms Reid said these programs drew on different funding sources, and CCLLEN’s concern was losing core funding would reduce its capacity to maintain partnerships, support other organisations and respond when young people needed help beyond an individual program.
She said she, and other LLENs, were calling for $10.85 million a year in ongoing core funding from January 1 through an initial agreement of at least three years.
“This proposal would maintain our statewide coverage, local governance and public accountability and a funding commitment and transition arrangements are needed before current agreements expire,” Ms Reid said.
“Neighbourhood and community houses face related funding pressures and Neighbourhood Houses Victoria’s submission, updated in August, reports co-ordination funding has fallen behind wage costs, leaving houses to raise money for basic operating expenses.
“We are not talking huge numbers here, but we are talking about a huge impact in young lives — and we want that impact to be a positive, not negative.
“A lot of our work happens behind-the-scenes. We know the local schools, employers and services, and help them work together. That is what LLENs were established to do, and it needs reliable funding.
“In a rural or regional community, getting to a course or workplace can be the first hurdle. For another young person, it might be finding a mentor or the confidence to try something new. Our local partnerships help make those things possible.
“We are asking the same government that is deciding future program funding to support our wider work.
“That puts us in a difficult position when speaking up for our communities could be seen as arguing for a contract. We still have a responsibility to explain the funding gap.
“The pressures on neighbourhood and community houses are another reason to look at how government funds local organisations.
“Grants for individual projects help, but communities also need sustained investment in the people who keep that work going.”
