About Us

The Victorian Local Learning and Employment Networks (VicLLENs) is the collaboration and collective voice of Victoria’s 31 LLENs, covering every corner of the state. Each LLEN is an incorporated association governed by a volunteer board. LLENs are committed to working with their local communities and across Victoria to improve the education, training, and employment outcomes of all young people. We proudly work with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Department of Education and Training, schools, TAFEs, community organisations, and businesses of all sizes, to build sustainable partnerships. These partnerships enable us to connect students with meaningful opportunities, provide work placements, and educate young people on what industries can offer. Through collaboration with employers, industry groups, and local leaders, we strive to create tailored pathways that empower young people to achieve their aspirations and build strong, vibrant communities across Victoria.

Our Vision

Our vision is that every young Victorian is supported to complete their secondary education with the confidence, knowledge, skills and connections required to successfully transition to further education, training or employment.

  • "Local Learning and Employment Networks are crucial to ensuring young people don't fall through the cracks. As the Minister for Women, I'm immensely proud to see VicLLENs making a formal commitment to gender equality. Our government shares a vision for a safe and equal society, where all Victorians have equal access to power, resources and opportunities and are treated with dignity, fairness and respect. LLENs provide a fantastic example for other organisations to follow. You are helping create a better Victoria, a fairer Victoria, and I wish you the very best with your ongoing efforts to promote gender equality."

    The Hon. Gabrielle Williams - Minister for Women, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence

  • “I appreciate the commitment and contribution that the LLENs have made in fostering partnerships between schools and industry over this 20-year period, and the opportunities this has provided students as they transition into further education, training and employment pathways.”

    The Hon. James Merlino - Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Minister for Mental Health

  • “LLENs commenced because of the need to have focused and organised networks, programs and advocacy for young people. They were set around local governments because it was the level of engagement that was more direct, based on community and focused on accountability and delivery that rings true and hits the mark. They were an important initiative back then and - given the current scenarios for young people - are even more important now.”

    Howard Kelly - Former Project Director, Kirby Review

Our Story

In 2000, the Minister for Post Compulsory Education and Training, the Hon. Lynne Kosky, expressed concern about the number of young people “falling through the cracks”, disengaging from school, not continuing with further education and training, and not gaining sufficient skills to meet the needs of employers. This led to a Ministerial Review of Post-Compulsory Education and Training Pathways, chaired by Peter Kirby.
The review heard submissions from all over the state, with many supporting the idea of local actions for local needs, linking agencies and cutting bureaucratic red tape to work for young people. The ‘Kirby Report’ recommended the formation of Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs). Each LLEN was formed in 2001-2002 with funding from the Victorian Government. LLENs quickly developed a focus on applied learning and expertise in creating place-based partnerships to improve outcomes for all young people.

Our Track Record

  • Engaged with thousands of teachers and students at 886 government, Catholic and independent schools and non-school providers
  • Supported the creation of hundreds of VCAL and VET programs in schools and communities
  • Coordinated over 16,000 SWL placements in five years.
  • Created over a thousand local partnerships to improve outcomes for young people.
  • Led 25 VET clusters (partnerships that bring together schools, training providers and industry to provide local, affordable and accessible VET options).
  • Developed and scaled-up place-based programs and initiatives to meet the diverse needs of students and young people.
  • Maintained a commitment to addressing disadvantage and supporting vulnerable young people - those most at risk of “falling through the cracks”.
  • Built a combined membership of over 5,000 organisations and individuals.
  • Contributed to dozens of industry, community and government boards and over 250 local, regional, state and federal committees, taskforces, panels and advisory groups.
  • Shared local and statewide intelligence and research on young people, pathways and labour markets to inform strategic planning and decision-making by industries and governments.

Our Approach

We believe it takes a whole-of-community approach to ensure all young people successfully transition to the world of work. To do this, LLENs often work in the ‘spaces-in-between’, creating new links between young people, schools, employers, families, government and the broader community. We asked LLEN leaders and partners to describe what we do. Here’s what we heard:
  • The Best Outcomes for Young People - LLENs work with the community to help young people smoothly transition to the world of work. We’re here to make sure every young person has access to great advice and aspirational pathway planning.
  • Local Contexts, Local Solutions - LLENs work within a place-based framework, addressing specific local needs. LLENs are embedded in their communities, having built long-standing relationships and connections over the past 20 years, bringing everyone together to create locally-tailored solutions.
  • Collaboration for Collective Impact - Through building strong relationships across the community, LLENs are at the nexus of schools, communities, industries and government. LLENs act as a lynchpin in their region, connecting stakeholders to ultimately provide better pathways and support for young people.
  • Networks and Partnerships - LLENs lead organised efforts to improve coordinated service delivery in the community. Through creating a regular connection point for stakeholders, LLENs ensure an open line of communication between everyone working to improve the lives of young people.
  • Building Equity into Post Secondary Outcomes - We concentrate our support on the young people who need it the most. Every extra year of school past Year 10 adds an extra 10 percent to a young person’s lifetime earnings. LLENs work with communities and schools to support early intervention and transition initiatives, helping ensure young people have the best foundation for a successful future.
  • Bridging the Gaps - Through local industry engagement, we bridge the gap between schools and employers. We are the catalyst of a collaborative effort to give young people the best start to their career. This whole-of-community effort helps to address workforce shortages, connect employers with young workers and reinvigorate local industries with fresh talent.
  • 16,000 Work Placements and Counting - LLENs are the leading advocates for students gaining industry experience. Our core work is ensuring that students have the opportunity to meet employers and gain real-world skills, as early as possible. We work with employers to make new work placements available to students.
  • Advocates for Young People’s Futures - LLENs keep a focus for everyone on what happens once school is done: we’re always asking the question “what comes next?” There is a community expectation that young people are supported to move into the next phase of what happens in their life. So this can happen, we keep this conversation at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
  • Informing Policy and Decision Making - LLENs are a direct line of contact between regions and statewide decision makers, feeding local advice through to influence statewide policy and program issues.
  • Trusted and Independent - The independence of LLENs is important for local communities. Being neutral and impartial, LLENs are trusted by partners because they have no vested interest.

Ready to make a difference?

Reach out

Employers, if you’d like to engage with local students and schools, or you’re an Educator working in a school, please contact your Local Learning and Employment Network.

 

If you’re a large organisation, tertiary educator or  have multiple locations across the state and would like to connect with multiple LLENs, please contact communications@vicllens.org.au

 

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