FUSE South West

Moyne Shire Council has launched an exciting initiative to boost the skills, credentials, confidence and connections of young people living in small towns and remote parts of Victoria’s south west region.

With funding received through VicHealth’s The Big Connect, Moyne is collaborating with YACVic Rural, Glenelg Shire Council, Glenelg Southern Grampians LLEN, Food & Fibre Great South Coast, Community South West and Barwon Health, to deliver FUSE South West.

Over the next 18 months, we’ll be offering a diverse range of FREE training programs and hands-on experiences, with the support of local businesses and community service providers. 

Research shows young people living in small rural towns and isolated areas are disproportionately affected by barriers to participation, such as a lack of access to transport and the internet. They are also more disconnected from their local communities, with COVID-19 lockdowns of the past few years taking a toll on their mental health.

FUSE South West is a positive initiative that responds to the research findings and what our young people are telling us they need and want, to improve their future work prospects and their community connections.

Expected short-term outcomes of the program include developing the skills, confidence, connections, mental health resiliency and work readiness of the youth involved.  In the longer term, it is envisaged the program will help to break down barriers that contribute to youth isolation, community disconnection and poor mental health, through the creation of pathways into permanent work and opportunities that help young people achieve their full potential.

We’re currently engaging with young people across the region to codesign the program. We want to hear their ideas about what kind of skills they’d like to learn, locations to deliver the trainings from and any support requirements they might have.