+ Day Program

YSAS Day Programs run out of Dandenong (REVAL) and Abbotsford.

If you are between 12 – 21 years, have significant problems with your drug and/or alcohol use, and want to get involved in some activities to improve your life skills these programs can help.

REVAL is a safe and friendly space for you to engage in activities and programs that respond to drug and alcohol related issues. Music, graphic design, fashion, adventure and sports, or health and fitness activities are all available as part of the program.

Abbotsford Day Program is a safe space for you and has a range of services such as; primary health clinic, access and referral to other supports, therapeutic and skill-building programs, supervised recovery spaces and basic assistance including food packs, showers and washing machines.

Workers will also support you to find a way back into education, employment or training.

Things to think about

Day program activities usually run for a few hours a day. They are usually groups programs which means you will be interacting with other young people too.

Who is this best for?

This program is a good option if you:

• Want a safe drop-in space
• Don’t attend school or work during the day
• Have limited supports (social and other)
• Have housing issues
• Want to get to know YSAS and see what it is about

+ Outreach

Outreach programs run out of Abbotsford, Gippsland, Ringwood, Bendigo, Dandenong, Frankston/Mornington Peninsula, Sunshine, and Preston.

If you are between 12 – 21 years and have significant problems with your drug and/or alcohol use this program can help.

Outreach support is flexible in lots of different ways. Including, making sure the kind of help you get is matched to what you need.

YSAS drug and alcohol workers can come to you. They will meet you in your own space and in your own community; the places where you feel safe.

Forensic Youth Outreach is also an option at many of our locations, which means that YSAS can work with you if you are involved with the justice system as well as having drug and/or alcohol issues.

The type of support you can get from Outreach includes:

• Assessing your needs and making a support plan with you
• Referrals and linkages
• Practical support (getting Centrelink sorted, organising a doctor appointment)
• Family support
• Information and education
• General counselling

Things to think about

Sometimes you will need to organise an appointment to meet up with your outreach worker, this appointment may be in the office or somewhere in the community.

Who is this best for?

This program is a good option if you:

• Have a lot of other things going on in your life as well as use of drugs and alcohol
• Need practical support to get stuff sorted while working on your drug and alcohol use
• Find it hard to make it to an office to catch up with a worker.

+ Home-based withdrawal and Primary health support

Home-based withdrawal (HBW) services run out of Ringwood, Dandenong and Bendigo.

If you are between 12 – 21 years, are living in safe and stable accommodation, with family and/or friends and wish to withdraw from drug use in the community, HBW is an option.

The HBW nurse can also get help with your physical and mental health and wellbeing needs, as well as link you to other health, wellbeing, educational, employment and recreational services.

Things to think about

HBW Nurses can help you with other health issues, not only withdrawal. They provide outreach support, which means they can come to you and give you practical support with your health and other needs.

Who is this best for?

This program is a good option if you:

• Have ongoing illnesses
• Have complicated medication regimes
• Are on pharmacotherapy (Methadone, Buprenorphine)
• Have dental problems
• Are pregnant and using substances
• Have a safe home environment for withdrawal

+ Residential withdrawal

Residential withdrawal programs run out of Geelong, Glen Iris, and Fitzroy.

If you are between 12 – 21 years YSAS Residential Withdrawal Services give you an opportunity to withdraw from drugs and/or alcohol and have a break in a drug free space.

Each unit is staffed 24 hours a day by youth drug and alcohol workers and has primary health support staff. Medical care is provided by YSAS doctors and nurses.

Visits from supportive family, friends and support staff can be arranged. Check with the unit to see their policies.

There are regular activities, including:

• Art, music
• Gym, swimming
• Acupuncture, massage, relaxation
• Outings

Things to think about

Intensive support means that there are always youth workers in the unit to help. Also, because you are ‘living’ in the unit for your stay you can’t actually come and go without supervision by staff or others as arranged. However, outings and activities (including some outside the unit) will keep you busy!

On the day you arrive you will settle into the unit and you will see a doctor or medical staff who will complete a detailed health assessment. This information helps us to keep you safe and look after you as well as we can.

Who is this best for?

This program is a good option if you:

• Feel your drug and/or alcohol use is out of control
• Feel other areas of life are in crisis (family, housing, physical and emotional health)
• Don’t have any other safe drug-free places
• Don’t have much support you can rely on to help you try to have a break
• Have tried to cut down or stop using at home or in the community

YSAS Residential Withdrawal Services are free and voluntary.

Referrals can be made by:

• Young people or family members
• YSAS Community Programs
• Through community alcohol and other drug services, GPs, primary and mental health service, youth justice and homelessness services.

+ Residential Rehabilitation

YSAS Residential Rehabilitation (rehab) is based in Eltham. Birribi is a structured, supportive rehabilitative program that gives you an opportunity to manage your drug and/or alcohol issues in a drug free space.

Birribi is a 15 bed therapeutic community that provides support for up to 6 months for young people 16 – 20 years and is a chance to work on your health, wellbeing and substance use.

The program includes individual and group therapy, counselling, primary health and mental health support and medical care, regular recreational, educational, training opportunities, and developing important life skills including community living and shared responsibility.

A youth worker will be able to talk with you about what impacts your use, how using drugs affects different parts of your life and also help you to plan and practice strategies to maintain changes and keep yourself healthy and safe.

YSAS Rehabilitation Services are free, confidential and voluntary. Referrals can be made by:

• Individual young people or family members
• YSAS Community Programs
• Through community alcohol and other drug services, GPs, primary and mental health service, youth justice and homelessness services.

Things to think about

If you decide to go to rehab you will have to meet with staff beforehand. You will be asked questions and they will collect information to help with your planned entry to rehab. This is so that you can be safe and to same sure you are ready to start the program. You will be able to ask them questions about what to expect and also tell them what you want and need to feel supported.

Before going to rehab you will need to have withdrawn from substances – this may mean attending a withdrawal nit or a home-based withdrawal.

Who is this best for?

This program is a good option if you:

• Feel your drug and/or alcohol use has been getting out of control
• Really want to make changes
• Are not working or going to school

+ Bunjilwarra Koori Youth Alcohol and Drug Healing Service

Bunjilwarra Koori Youth Alcohol and Drug Healing Service is based in Hastings.

This is a purpose-built 12 bed residential rehabilitation and healing service for male and female young Aboriginal people aged 16 – 25. The service is accessible state wide and run by Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) and YSAS.

The Aboriginal-defined understanding of healing is protected and cultivated in this environment and is central to a cultural framework that guides the support of young people who enter the service. This means that moving toward a return to physical, emotional, spiritual and cultural wellbeing; can begin in this safe place.

Bunjilwarra is staffed 24 hours a day by a team of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal workers. They are skilled in the areas of alcohol and other drugs, mental health, and complex life experiences so they can help you during your journey.

The program is structured, and has therapeutic activities including; individual and group therapy, as well as recreational, education and training opportunities. All which help develop living skills, strengthen cultural identity, and increase physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Improving connection to family, community and culture is a priority along with building up your ability to care for yourself now and in the future.

YSAS Rehabilitation Services are free and voluntary.

Referrals can be made by:

• Individual young people or family members
• YSAS Community Programs
• Other Youth AOD services

Things to think about

If you decide to go to Bunjilwarra you will need to be prepared. So getting support from Elders and workers in the community who can help you go through an assessment and make sure you are ready for the program is a good idea.

The program is pretty intensive, there is structure and you will be expected to participate in the program. Also you will be living in a community environment with other young people.

When you are part of the program you will be challenged, supported and given time to build connections to self, community and culture. These steps towards healing will help you to move forward at the end of your time at Bunjilwarra in a meaningful and positive way.

Who is this best for?

This program is a good option if you:

• Identify as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
• Need help dealing with your drug and/or alcohol use
• Really want to make changes
• Are not working or going to school

+ Supported accommodation

YSAS Wilum Supported Accommodation program is for young people 16 – 20 years who need accommodation and want to stay abstinent (not use drugs) after completing a withdrawal.

The focus of the (up to) 12 month program is helping you develop independent living skills and other important life skills, assisting you to access therapeutic groups and services, and working to encourage you to reconnect to the wider community through education, employment, training and recreation.

Things to think about

If you become part of this program you will be sharing a house/unit with other young people and a lead tenant and you will be in regular contact with support workers. You will be practically living independently with a little help.

You may also need to show you have continuing to not use drugs. The best way to do this is a urine drug screen – you will be able to talk to staff about if/when you need to do this and also how to go about it.

Who is this best for?

This program is a good option if you:

• Don’t need a lot of support or supervision
• Feel pretty confident you can look after yourself (live independently)
• Are ready to start working towards connecting to the community

+ Specialist Programs

Specialist Programs aim to support and meet the unique and specific needs of particular groups of young people.

The programs vary from region to region, which is a reflection of their communities.

The focus for all specialist programs is to provide help for young people who may otherwise miss out or not get the kind of help they need in other programs or services.

Youth Empowerment Project (YEP)

The Youth Empowerment Project runs out of Sunshine.

It works with young people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds who are experiencing problems related to their drug and alcohol use.

The project focuses on supportive young people dealing with homelessness, complex relationship issues (including family violence), immigration issues and justice related issues.

Mobile Health Access Project (MHAP)

The Mobile Health Access Project is a mobile health service that runs out of Sunshine.

This project is a partnership with Co-Health. It offers drug and alcohol focused outreach and health support provided by youth workers and a qualified nurse

Family Support

The Family Support specialist worker is based in Bendigo.

They can work with you and your family or caregivers to; help your family understand drug use and adolescent development, organise family meetings so you can all work together to understand each other’s perspective and improve relationships, and identify strengths and goals.

Supporting Health, Education, Recreation and Personal Autonomy (SHERPA)

The YSAS SHERPA program runs out of Ringwood.

If you are between 12 – 21 years, have problems with your drug and/or alcohol use and want to get involved in some activities and make connections this group program can help.

The program aims to reduce drug and alcohol related harms, increase connection to work or education, build meaningful connections to community and improve physical wellbeing.

Included in the program is; one-on-one appointments with a worker to focus on your particular goals and needs, weekly community based activities, such as cooking and adventure based sessions.

The types of activities/sessions that are chosen change depending on the needs and interests of group members.

YSAS Mental Health AOD Nurse Practitioner

The YSAS Mental Health AOD Nurse Practitioner is based in Bendigo.

They work to provide sexual health testing, vaccination check-ups, referrals to AOD withdrawal and rehabilitation programs, pharmacotherapy and psychological interventions.

Alcohol and Drug Youth Consultant (ADY-C)

The ADY-C runs out of Dandenong and Ringwood covering the Southern and Eastern Metropolitan region.

The ADY-C provides access to alcohol and drug support services for young people in residential out of home care and adolescent community placement.

The ADY-C also provides secondary consultation, professional development and capacity building to statutory services to ensure a more coordinated and integrated service response to young people with alcohol and drug issues.

Principal Practitioner (ADYPP)

The Alcohol and Drug Youth Principal Practitioner is based in Ringwood and covers the eastern region of Victoria.

The ADYPP works collaboratively with Eastern Metropolitan region Out of Home Care, Child Protection and Youth Justice professionals to provide specialist drug and alcohol assessment and advice for high-risk young people exiting Out of Home Care, Secure Welfare or Youth Justice Centres.

The Principal Practitioner also consults on care planning, education and support for case managers and care treatment teams, while facilitating complex care coordination for young people.

Young Parents Program

Young Parents’ Program is based in Frankston, covering the southern metropolitan region and Latrobe Valley.

If you are 12 – 25 years, are pregnant or raising children, have problems with your drug and/or alcohol use and are likely to have contact with Child Protection services, Young Parents Program is an option.

The program provides intensive therapeutic work and support to increase your parenting capacity, improve family connection while also working with you to reduce the impact of your drug and alcohol use.

Reconnect

Reconnect is based in Ringwood, covering the eastern metropolitan region.

The program can support young people aged 12 – 18 years who have significant drug and/or alcohol problems and are at risk of homelessness due to family issues.

Reconnect focuses on improving connections with family, work, education and community, while also working on the reasons for and impacts of the substance use and how to make healthy changes.

REVAL Ink

REVAL Ink runs out of Dandenong Day Program however, if you are 12 -24 years and already connected with YSAS you can access the program, no matter where you live.

If you are interested in art and graphic design, would like to get to use professional design software in a supportive space and get to print your new design on a T-short or hoodie then it is time to get in contact with REVAL Ink.

Family and Youth Early Intervention Program (FaYEIP)

The FaYEIP program runs out of Dandenong, covering the southern metropolitan region.

This is a family focused brief intervention program that supports young people aged 10 – 18 years who are experiencing issues related to drug and/or alcohol problems.

FaYEIP builds on the strengths and capacities in families which helps to reduce future drug and/or alcohol related risks for the young person.

The program aims to improve family connection, communication and self-care, build confidence in managing substance use concerns, and increase links to community.

Transformer

The Transformer Program runs out of Dandenong.

An assertive outreach approach is used to connect with young people from new and emerging communities as well as their peers and families. The program works to practically increase access to resources, encourage pro-social community connection, strengthen family relationships and support young people to engage in education, employment and other meaningful activities.

Many young people are linked to the program through Youth Justice, Community Corrections, and Victoria Police. However, families, communities and young people are welcome to get in contact.