Project Spotlight

Welcome to Givewell's Project Spotlight. Each month we highlight a project for which a charity is currently seeking funds. We also provide details on how to give directly for this project.

Organisation	Orana Family Services
Project Name	Sunbury SafetyNet

Project description
Orana Family Services has worked for many years in the local community providing solution-focussed, innovative programs to assist young people and their families to enhance their lives.

The Sunbury SafetyNet program was established to meet the needs of an increasing number of secondary students living in the Sunbury area who were presenting to Student Welfare Co-ordinators as a result of homelessness. Student Welfare Co-ordinator's estimate that across the three secondary schools in Sunbury, comprising some 2,500 students, up to 60 students may be homeless, or at risk of homelessness, at any one time. For many of these students, who ranged in age from 12-18 years, their homeless was the result of unresolved family conflict.

Homelessness has a devastating effect on the lives of young people. As well as the risks associated with living on the streets and in unstable and temporary accommodation, 7 out of 10 young people who are homeless will fail to complete their education, greatly decreasing their future opportunities. Research into the problem of youth homelessness has shown that early intervention strategies, and the capacity of young people to maintain contact with their own communities, can make a critical difference.

Sunbury SafetyNet aims to ensure that young people and their families are provided with intensive support over a two week period, to enable them to effectively resolve the differences that lead to their referral to the program. Depending on individual circumstances, this may involve:

Placement of the young person in respite accommodation provided by trained volunteer caregivers for 2 weeks, while working with the young person and their family to address issues and negotiate areas of particular concern
Linking young people and their families to other appropriate community resources

In addition to providing short-term intervention, the project will run a number of prevention-focused community education sessions with school staff, parent groups and young people. These sessions will explore issues of family conflict, youth homelessness, adolescent development, communication and conflict resolution strategies.

All aspects of the Sunbury SafetyNet Project are managed by a Steering Committee comprising representatives from Sunbury Secondary College, Sunbury Downs Secondary College, Salesian College, Sunbury Community Church, Sunbury Community Health Centre and Orana Family Services. This body is responsible, through the Co-ordinator of the project, to evaluate and provide reports to all funding bodies, as required. It will also ensure that the project has a very local focus, providing a community-based and community-driven response to the problem of family conflict and youth homelessness. The program will also be evaluated through discussions with the young people themselves, their families and the caregivers involved.

Funds donated to the project will be used to assist with the core cost of living expenses for students placed with volunteer caregivers, whose families are unable or unwilling to cover these costs. Some funds would also be made available to provide additional tutoring for students whose studies have been affected by family conflict and/or homelessness. This is particularly critical in the case of VCE students.

Can donors/grantmakers give directly for this project? Yes

If so, how? Contact Chris O'Donnell, Executive Officer of Orana Family Services, on (03) 9302 2700 or email orana@a1.com.au

Is there an allowance for administration costs? Orana Family Services' existing administration resources will be used to run the project.

If so, how much? N/A

Contact details for further information:
Program Co-ordinator, Koula Neophytou at Orana Family Services, Phone (03) 9302 2700 or email orana@a1.com.au.

This Project Spotlight was selected by Givewell Research Analyst, Cate Smith:
Being a teenager, and finishing school, is tough enough without the added pressure of having nowhere safe or supportive to live. Community-based projects like this one, that involve a range of people - parents, teachers and other members of the community - can give young people a sense that there are lots of people looking out for them and who can provide them with support when and where they need it.