What We Do & Our History
Future Connect is a not-for-profit organisation that creates opportunities that lead to improving education, training and employment pathways for young people in Brimbank and Melton. We prioritise empowerment participation and voice for young people experiencing disadvantage.
We achieve this by:
- Improving the understanding of different education and employment pathways and ensure the value and benefits of each pathway is considered by young people and those influencing their decisions. This pillar is all about young people, the community and employers
- Supporting employment and training aspirations of young people
- Facilitating greater community inclusion for young people and their parents and families
Future Connect is one of 31 Local Learning and Employment Networks across the State and is funded by State Government. Future Connect aims to broker sustainable partnerships between schools, business/industry, community groups and parents to improve educational outcomes for young people.
Until December 2018, we were known as the Brimbank/Melton Local Learning and Employment Network. That year the call was put in May for students in Brimbank and Melton to be part of the re-brand as a Structured Workplace Learning project. They were given a professional brief to develop a brand mark and produce a style guide with guidance from professional designers. They went further than that and brainstormed a new name; one that says more about what the organisation does. See below for further information about the re-branding of Brimbank/Melton LLEN.
Environment
Future Connect works in the cities of Brimbank and Melton in Victoria's western metropolitan region. These communities exist in growth corridors of Melbourne with significant, and growing, populations of young people. Future Connect works closely with young people, their families, schools and other community groups, local businesses and training organisations to improve the experience of navigating education and training pathways.
Our History
In 2000 the Minister for Post Compulsory Education and Training, the Hon. Lynne Kosky, expressed concern over the number of young people who did not seem to be well served by existing services, many "falling through the cracks". Too many had not been succeeding at school or dropping out, not continuing with further education and not gaining sufficient skills to meet the needs of employers.
The subsequent "Kirby Report" heard submissions from all over the state, including representatives from Brimbank and Melton. It was felt that the Kirby Report should support the idea of local actions for local needs, linking agencies and cutting bureaucratic red tape to work for young people. The Report recommended the formation of Local Learning and Employment Networks. The Brimbank/Melton LLEN formed in 2002, funded by the State Government.
To find out more about LLENs in Victoria, click on the link below to visit the Victorian State Government LLEN page:
Victorian State Government LLEN information
Our Re-branding project - From Brimbank/Melton LLEN to Future Connect
On Wednesday 12th December 2018, Brimbank Melton LLEN launched their new brand and a new name to go along with it. Two talented young designers were commissioned to develop a new brand and logo, working alongside creatives from Stokes Street Studio. Maddy Elliot and Alesia Li didn’t stop at that – they also created a new name, feeling that the old one just didn’t connect with employers or young people.
‘We are so thrilled to be able to showcase the talent of our young designers in this way. The new logo and the process to get there really sums up what we are about.” said Deirdre Hardy, Executive Officer. ‘We want the voices of young people to be heard and celebrated’. ‘We are contracted by DET to deliver a Structured Workplace Learning contract where young people get the chance to gain real-world experience to complement their VET studies’ explains Maria Cox, Structured Workplace Coordinator for the LLEN at that time.
The call was put out in May for students in Brimbank and Melton to be part of the re-brand as a Structured Workplace Learning project. They were given a professional brief to develop a brand mark and produce a style guide with guidance from professional designers. They went further than that and brainstormed a new name; one that says more about what the organisation does. ‘We loved every minute of it and it was so fantastic to see how the students’ developed their skills and really took ownership of what they developed. This was their creative brief and we just supported them when they needed it.’ said Senior Creative Cate Broadbent.
‘I was so impressed by how professionally the students behaved; they even presented to our committee of management and responded so maturely to the feedback they received. We are so pleased with our new look’ said Deirdre. Future Connect works in the Brimbank and Melton Local government areas. The vision is a bright future where our community works together so all young people dream, aspire, connect and achieve.
Watch our re-branding video below: