The BGK LLEN is committed to maximising education, training and employment outcomes for young people, through a collaborative and cooperative community approach.

The BGK LLEN is made up of partner organisations and individuals who are working together to increase education, employment and training opportunities for all young people in our region.

Our mission is to improve community capacity to better empower young people to achieve positive outcomes.

The BGK LLEN will work with and as part of the community to:

• value young people and their input
• advocate for young people
• work collectively in the best interests of young people
• adopt an innovative and creative approach
• maintain a supportive, non-judgemental, good-humoured and optimistic environment where contributions and achievements are valued and celebrated
• adhere to principles of confidentiality, equality and social justice
• welcome and embrace challenge, diversity and difference
• share information, knowledge and expertise openly. 

What are LLENs?

Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) incorporate three key themes of the Victorian Government's commitment to education reform:

• community building
• innovation
• development of infrastructure.

Taken together these themes indicate a significant shift of emphasis away from centralised decision-making by governments and institutions to decision making by empowered local communities working through strategic alliances and partnerships.

The Ministerial Review of Post Compulsory Education and Training Pathways in Victoria (the Kirby Review) undertaken in 2000, emphasised the benefits to be gained by a local cooperative approach to planning, including strengthening communities, minimising duplication and wasteful competition and acknowledging the need for a sense of shared responsibility between all sectors including employers and industry for the outcomes of all young people within a regional area.

The Kirby review also found that too many young people are 'dropping out' of education and training and that too often no institution takes responsibility for looking out for them.

The LLENs are an initiative of the Victorian government with networks covering all areas of the State. They have significant responsibility for planning for an integrated and seamless post compulsory education, training, employment and social support system to meet the needs of young people in the 15-19 year age group.

A Local Learning and Employment Network brings together local education providers, local employers, local councils and other interested people in their community to:

• Identify gaps in the provision of education and training locally
• Plan the development and delivery of educational programs for young people which will assist in meeting the targets for better completion rates and employment outcomes
• Take a strategic approach to developing pathways for local young people, especially those at risk of dropping out
• Monitor these pathways and outcomes to ensure they are beneficial to young people
• Advise the Victorian Skills Commission (VSC) on the needs of young people in their area.