SCHOOL oUTREACH sUPPORT sERVICE

School Outreach Support Service (SOSS) works to re-engage young people who have already, or are at risk of, disengaging from their education, family and the broader community. The program is designed to complement school initiatives.

SOSS embeds Les Twentyman Foundation’s in-school youth workers to deliver personal development programs to students needing additional support whilst also providing one-on-one intensive case management.

The SOSS program encompasses three main areas:

• Intensive One-on-One Support: Youth workers and students work together to problem-solve, achieve goals, and attain positive outcomes.
• Group Work: Utilizing an experiential learning platform, students are taught social skills in a non-intimidating and supportive group environment.
• Outreach Support: This unique service allows youth workers to meet students on their ‘turf,’ where they feel comfortable, fostering stronger engagement with students and their families.

Through these comprehensive efforts, the SOSS program is dedicated to creating a positive impact on the lives of at-risk youth and supporting their successful reintegration into school and the community.

Our School Outreach Support Service (SOSS) program has been adapted from the Les Twentyman Foundation’s ‘Positive Futures’ program, which has operated for more than 5 years within four schools across Melbourne’s south-east. This program has been independently evaluated by ThinkImpact with the following findings:

• 90% of students say they have someone they can turn to for help
• 90% of students feel more confident that they can reach their goals in life
• 100% of students believe that they are more likely to finish school
• 60% decrease in absenteeism among students participating in the program

In relation to the Foundation’s SOSS program, similar outcomes are being reported by school leaders in Taylors Lakes Secondary College.

By participating in the SOSS program, students are more likely to remain engaged in their education and less likely to engage in anti-social behaviour, leading to safer communities and a reduction in the current strain on the resources of the school, the police and the courts.