Swan Hill Rural City Council's Empower Youth Program works with young people aged 12-25 who are disengaged or at risk of disengaging from family, education and/or community.
The program strives to connect disadvantaged young people to opportunities to allow them to develop and grow.
Swan Hill Rural City Council's recently appointed Empower Youth Engagement Worker, Ashlee Mason said the program empowers young people to engage with a support worker to determine a pathway to achieve their goals.
"Pathways are developed in partnership with other service providers to address, stabilise and overcome any barriers to future success," Ms Mason said.
Ms Mason said her role focuses predominantly on outreach to young people aged 12-25 years in Robinvale, Manangatang and surrounds.
"I want to strengthen the health and wellbeing of young people, promote their participation in the community, engage them in education and training and facilitate employment pathways for them.
"Goals can range from obtaining a learners permit to seeking mental health support.
"We work in conjunction with other services to ensure consistent and relevant support for each young person," she said.
Ms Mason said to play a small part in supporting a young person to build skills and strategies to work toward their ideal life is a privilege.
"It's also a wonderful reminder that we possess all we need to fulfil our goals but with a little extra help we can get there and beyond.
"My aim is to provide a service that reminds young people of their incredible skills, qualities and abilities and build their capacity to utilise what they already possess and work toward their happiest and healthiest self," she added.
Council's Youth Support Services team is based at the Youth Inc building at 50-52 Campbell Street, Swan Hill.
If you are a young person aged 12 - 25 and need help, support or just someone to talk to, please call in. Youth Inc is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm.
