Case studies

Emily Baisman never believed she’d make it to university. “I had really severe mental health for a long time,” she says. “I had to…

Sarah Hiley knows how life-saving harm reduction can be. She’s worked with people who use drugs and alcohol for over 20 years, most recently…

Trish Serratore grew up surrounded by the healing power of food. Born into a big Italian family, her dad owned a bakery and worked…

If you’ve ever called YSAS Reception, chances are you’ve spoken to Bianca Walsh. Her warm, calm tone and quick thinking helps callers find…

Finding your first job can be tough, something Dan* is currently experiencing firsthand. The 20-year-old has handed out hundreds of resumes online and in person,…

Senior Primary Health Outreach Nurse Nat Joyce isn’t your typical nurse. He is dedicated to supporting young people with their health, whether that’s physical,…

The first time Nathan Akoka was in a drug and alcohol withdrawal unit, he wasn’t a worker. He was a client. When he was 13…

When I was 15, I drank so much that I fell unconscious on my bed. My dad rang me and I wasn’t able to speak…

Lake Majstorovic is passionate about improving the lives of LGBTIQA+ young people. Growing up as a non-binary person in the Frankston area, they experienced…

When Marcus Hough first learned about intersectionality, it was a light bulb moment. “It’s a theory from black feminists who are talking about a…

Support for young people often takes a one-size-fits-all approach. Youth worker Cihan Tohumcuer has seen how this cookie-cutter model has left Victoria’s Muslim community behind.…

Dave Pettingill has felt like a youth worker since he was three. He grew up with many foster brothers and sisters, and eventually, his parents…

There’s an old saying in social work: if you want to help people, you have to meet them where they are. For Akash Nadar*, that…

When Kelly* came to YSAS, she was 17 and looking for help. “I was having problems with alcohol,” she remembers, “and using marijuana and ice.”…

Sometimes the best candidate for the job isn’t the person with the longest list of qualifications or the most technical experience – they’re the person…

The idea of ‘bringing your whole self to work’ has become something of a corporate trend in recent years. But for Georgia Willmott, tearing down…

Sport has been a part of Scott Krakouer’s life for longer than he can remember. The son of an AFL athlete, Scott began playing football…

There are many reasons young people come to YSAS. For Tara Schultz, it was a problem with marijuana. “I was nervous,” Tara…