The School Focused Youth Service (SFYS) was established in 1998 as a joint initiative between the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the then Department of Education, Employment & Training, in response to the Victorian Government Suicide Prevention Task Force Report 1997. 

The SFYS works from the premise that schools and school engagement are central to a young person's experience in building protective factors against risk.  It also recognizes that schools are unable to respond to these challenges alone but can be pivotal in developing relationships with other agencies to create a coordinated service response.  The program is inclusive of the entire education sector and as such partnerships have been developed between the Departments of Human Services, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD), the Catholic Education Office (CEO) and the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria.  The success of the SFYS model is in its practical application of collaboration, which is strengthened by a structure that empowers front line services to make decisions about what is needed.

The SFYS coordinator also provides executive support for the Goulburn Valley Hume Interagency Team (GVHIT).  The vision of the GVHIT is "TO ENABLE EVERY YOUNG PERSON TO BE ENGAGED WITH EDUCATION & TRAINING".  The GVHIT membership includes representatives from the DEECD region, DHS, schools, early years service providers and community agencies.  A number of focus groups consider issues of importance to young people within three main age cohorts, 0 - 8 Early Years, 8 - 16 Middle Years and 16 - 24 Transition.  The meetings strengthen local opportunities for collaboration.

The SFYS also has a Brokerage fund which is publicized on an annual basis to facilitate partnerships to address the needs of young people (especially those at risk) between the ages 10 - 18 with a particular focus on those 10 - 14 (Middle Years).  The School Focused Youth Service Coordinator can be contacted on 03 5831 6157 for further information.