Sunshine

If you are between 12 – 25 years and have significant problems with your drug and/or alcohol use and are involved with the justice system this program can help.

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

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.

Our Youth Support Service is run from the Sunshine Visy Cares Hub at 80B Harvester Road, Sunshine.

This program connects you with a youth worker who can help you make changes so that you don’t keep getting in trouble with the police.

If you are between 10 – 17 years, have recently been in contact with police and could be at risk of entering the youth justice system this program can help.

Youth Support Service can help you if you have/are:

• Recently been in contact with police
• Been doing risky things lately (running away from home, getting into fights)
• Finding it hard to cope
• Experiencing homelessness
• Experiencing family conflict
• Have Court coming up and need some advice
• Want to make changes
• Need general support

YSS is voluntary, which means that it is up to you whether you are part of the program. It is separate from the legal process and is here to support you and your family to reach your goals.

YSS can help you and your family to deal with problems before they get too serious.

Referrals are made by Victoria Police, schools or other youth organisations/agencies who have gotten consent from you and/or your parent/s to reach out to you.

Things to think about If you have been referred to YSS by police you will get a phone call from a worker to make sure that you want our help and to find out what has been going on for you. A time to talk on the phone again or an in-person appointment will also be organised.

The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) supports young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who are experiencing significant problems related to their drug and alcohol use. The project focuses on supporting young people who are dealing with homelessness, complex relationships issues (including family violence), immigration issues and justice related issues.

The Embedded Youth Outreach Program (EYOP) is run in partnership Victoria Police that provides after-hours assertive outreach support for young people coming into contact with Police. The role of the youth worker is to help police connect more positively with young people and to responsively assess the needs, provide support and referrals to the young person.

Find out more here.

The Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) runs out of a recreation space in Werribee.

The program enables young people to participate in boxing, mentoring and social activities while also having an opportunity to build a strong and positive relationship with police.

The Zone is an innovative, new alcohol & other drugs (AOD) support program in Melbourne’s North & West for young people
 (12-25) & their families.

The team of dedicated specialists (including youth workers, nurses & practice leads) offer the following services:

• Ongoing support for drug and alcohol use
• Drug education and peer support groups
• Help connecting with other health, community and essential services
• Provide support to families, chosen family or important people in your life
• Assistance with managing withdrawal

The Zone is a collaborative partnership between YSAS, Drummond Street Services, Odyssey Victoria and is funded by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network.