Students will join forces with the police, local councils and other community agencies to fight underage drinking, vandalism and misuse of public areas under the Student Action Teams project.

The program is a partnership between the departments of education and justice, the Victoria Police and 20 secondary schools and is part of the Vicsafe Community Safety and Crime Prevention Framework.

Thirteen metropolitan and seven rural schools will form teams comprising students, teachers, local police, council representatives, employers and others to identify issues of concern in their communities and implement solutions.

The Department of Justice provided funding for the $290,000 project, conducted by the Department of Education. Australian Red Cross will provide leadership skills training.

The Student Action Teams program is based on similar, highly successful programs in the UK and Queensland.

The Minister for Education, Phil Gude, said involving young people at the school level was a key factor in combating violence and crime in the community.

"Juvenile crime-prevention is perhaps one of our most pressing concerns and if we are to make inroads in this regard, we must start education at the earliest opportunity," Mr Gude added.