Hume City Council has appointed Melbourne City Mission (MCM) to deliver a new youth outreach program aimed at supporting vulnerable young people across Sunbury and wider Hume City.
The Youth Assertive Outreach Program will commence on 1 July 2026 and provide early intervention support for young people aged 10 to 24 who are disengaged or at risk of becoming disengaged from education, employment or community life.
The community-based program will operate four afternoons and evenings each week until 7pm, as well as on weekends, with outreach workers engaging young people in locations where they regularly gather.
Council said the service would initially focus on areas of identified need, including:
- Sunbury
- Broadmeadows
- Craigieburn
- Mickleham, and
- Kalkallo…
while retaining the flexibility to respond to emerging issues across the city.
Young people will be able to access information, brief interventions and referrals to services including mental health support, housing, education, training, employment, legal assistance and family services.
Hume Mayor Cllr Carly Moore said the initiative would help strengthen support for young people before problems escalate.
MCM CEO Paul Wappett said: “We know that young people achieve their best outcomes when support meets them where they are. Through this new outreach program, we’ll be working alongside young people in their communities, building trusted relationships and helping them access the services, opportunities and connections they need to thrive.”
Council expects about 2,400 young people each year to benefit from the program, which aims to improve safety, social inclusion and participation while reducing the likelihood of young people entering the criminal justice system through earlier intervention.