YSAS BENDIGO
Bendigo YSAS is based at 8 King Street Bendigo and is located just off Mitchell Street. It is easily accessible and is close to public transport. A range of programs are available from this office so you will be able to find a good match for what you need whether you are looking for drug and alcohol, family and/or health support.
Because we adopt an outreach model of service delivery, we are able to work with young people across the City of Greater Bendigo and the Loddon Shire.
Reach out to YSAS Bendigo by giving us a call at 03 5444 2969
The following YSAS programs can be accessed at this location:
+ OUTREACH
Outreach programs run out of Gippsland, Bendigo, Ringwood, Dandenong, Frankston/Mornington Peninsula, Sunshine, and Preston.
If you are between 12 – 21 years and have problems with your drug and/or alcohol use this program can help.
Outreach support is flexible in lots of different ways. Including, importantly, 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 still need to organise an appointment to meet up with your outreach worker. The appointment may be in the office or somewhere in the community that you feel comfortable.
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 NURSE
Home-based withdrawal (HBW) services run out of Ringwood, Dandenong and Bendigo.
If you are between 12 – 21 years, want to go through alcohol and/or other drug withdrawal while staying in community (in safe and stable accommodation with family and/or friends), HBW is an option.
The HBW nurse can also help you with your physical and mental health, as well as link you to other 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
+ 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.
There are a number of specialist programs based in YSAS Bendigo including:
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.
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 work to understand each other’s perspective and improve relationships, and identify strengths and goals.