About Us

the BATForce story...

Why/what

Barwon Adolescent Taskforce (BATForce) works to improve the opportunities for young people by working with and providing support to the eco-systems that young people exist within.

BATForce is an alliance of organisations in the Wadawurrung, Gulidjan and Gadubanud countries with a stake in the provision of services with and for young people. 

These organisations focus on young people aged 10 to 25 and from all socio-economic, cultural and geographical areas within the region.  Services range from universal (for all young people), early intervention (for young people at risk) and tertiary (for young people at extreme risk).

As an alliance, BATForce is the vehicle to identify, develop, implement and evaluate service and sector enhancement activities that optimise the capacity of each independent organisation. BATForce has the scope to focus on the themes that are broader than any one individual agency.

BATForce has delivered literally hundreds of sectoral and community development projects from it’s inception in 1979 and has published widely on a range of topics in addition to establishing a culture of co-operation and collaboration across its extensive network.

Practical approaches to service co-ordination

BATForce has developed practical approaches to service co-ordination with an emphasis on routinely sharing information resources across the youth sector to avoid the duplication of effort.

It is not possible or desirable for every single agency to totally comprehend the funding maze out there – BATForce plays a role in collecting and disseminating this information for all agencies.

Nor is it possible or desirable for every agency to develop a comprehensive, current overview of the needs of young people – BATForce is an information vehicle that accumulates this information for every agency.

Rather than wasting effort on re-inventing programs BATForce is a meeting place for ideas and sharing of practice by facilitating and supporting collaborative programming.

Rather than seeing every agency struggle to represent the youth sector BATForce simultaneously represents agencies and the youth sector for our region.

BATForce is a collaborative service co-ordination vehicle that proactively responds to changing needs of both service providers and young people.

BATForce has a practical structure and approach

BATForce is an independent incorporated association in the State of Victoria and operates a simple, practical structure based on the sharing of ideas and information from the community of services and eco-systems that support young people.

The approach is participatory and guided by both practise based evidence and evidence based practice as well as co design .

In short, the structure and approach could not be simpler.

BATForce is based on a participatory model

BATForce is a meeting place for ideas and opportunities. The principle of participation is fundamental to the operation of BATForce. The alliance of ideas is only as strong as the contribution made by the local community of services.

The roles of the BATForce Executive (Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer) are drawn from communities in Wadawurrung, Gulidjan and Gadubanud countries.

BATForce connects with the community through education, information and advocacy. A variety of tools and methodologies are utilised to consult and include the voices of young people and the stakeholders who support them.