Napthine Government triples funding for Local Learning Employment Networks (LLENs) As someone that has been involved in the LLENS program as a mentor for many years, I welcome the Victorian Coalition Government’s announcement of $8 million in funding to secure the Local Learning Employment Networks (LLENs) program. The LLENS program supports vulnerable young people in our community, helping them back into education and training with the aim of getting them into a meaningful job. It works by forming partnerships with industry, community groups and education providers which engage constructively with young people and get them on the right track. It’s a program which has previously been jointly funded by state and federal governments, but there has been some uncertainty about the future of LLENs since the Commonwealth withdrew its $11 million funding share. So I was pleased to learn that the Education Minister Martin Dixon has just announced the Napthine Government will more than triple its funding for LLENs next year to $8 million. This will provide certainty for the 31 LLENs programs across Victoria and the young people who use their programs. The funding is on top of the $5.1 million the Napthine Government has provided to save the Workplace Learning Coordinators that work with LLENs. This is good news for our community as we work to help vulnerable young people learn and find meaningful employment. It is further evidence of the Napthine Government’s commitment to building a better education system for Victoria.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 10:40:38 +0000