About North Central LLEN

The North Central LLEN is committed to brighter futures for rural children and young people, from cradle to career.

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Our hope is that all rural children and young people across our region will thrive, be empowered to achieve their educational and career goals, and be supported to reach their full potential.

Since 2002, the North Central LLEN has proudly dedicated itself to supporting young people across our region to reach their fullest potential.

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Our journey has evolved significantly, and in 2017, becoming a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient status marked a pivotal expansion of our mission. We embraced the vital importance of investing early, recognising that the foundation built in a child’s earliest years is key to lifelong success in education, work, and life.

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We understand that a child’s future is shaped by a complex web of factors: health, family, community, schooling, safety, and relationships, all of which leave lasting imprints on their lives.

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Guided by this insight and a deep commitment to equity, the North Central LLEN continues to work in a place-based, cradle-to-career approach, supporting children and young people from birth through to 24 years. We prioritise smooth, supported transitions at every stage, ensuring no one is left behind.

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Our strength lies in collaboration. Together with our valued partners - schools, families, community organisations, and industry - we strive to break down barriers, address vulnerability, and create opportunities that empower every child and young person to be confident, resilient, and thriving contributors to their communities.​

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Where do we work?

The North Central LLEN predominantly works across the Buloke and Loddon Shires, at times extending into St Arnaud in the Northern Grampians Shire and Gannawarra Shire. For some of our partnerships and initiatives, our reach extends to neighbouring municipalities and communities of interest within rural and regional Victoria.

Our Priorities

Despite their resilience, many rural children and young people face opportunity gaps due to circumstances beyond their control. Structural barriers create unequal starting points for children and young people in rural areas, affecting their ability to thrive.

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Our priority is to support children, young people, and families, especially those experiencing rural, social, or economic disadvantage, through programs to:

• Build Solid Foundations (0–11 years)

• Provide strong Careers and Pathways (12-21 years)

• Empower Young People (12-24 years)

Our Strategic Focus​

Our work centres on empowering young people to be heard and actively shape the decisions that affect them, while fostering strong, purposeful partnerships that amplify impact across our region.

We are committed to growing local capacity by strengthening skills, leadership, and readiness, and to expanding knowledge through research and evidence that inform practice and influence policy.

By creating solutions that drive systems change and support continuous improvement, we work to ensure lasting, meaningful outcomes for rural children and young people.​

A cradle-to-career approach

We support the development, learning, and well-being of children and young people from early childhood through to adulthood. It’s about ensuring that every young person, regardless of background or postcode, has access to the right opportunities, support, and connections at every life stage.

This connected model spans the full continuum of growth and learning, including:

· Early childhood development and school readiness

· Primary and secondary education

· Clear pathways to further education, training, or employment

· Career readiness, adult life skills, and long-term well-being

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At its core, cradle-to-career is a collaborative, whole-of-community approach. It links schools, families, local organisations, employers, and government to work together around shared goals. By aligning efforts and breaking down silos, it ensures young people are supported through each transition point—so no one slips through the cracks.

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Particularly in rural and underserved areas, this model emphasises equity, continuity, and local ownership. It takes a long-term, patient approach to tackling deep-rooted disadvantage focusing on coordinated, place-based solutions that deliver meaningful change over time.

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The power of a cradle-to-career approach lies in connection: building a system where every stage of a young person’s journey is supported, aligned, and intentional.