YSAS Annual Report 2024

Two years ago, the team at headspace Collingwood were puzzled by one piece of data. Their mental health clinicians were spending huge amounts of time assessing young people — sometimes over several months — to prepare them for a standard course of six counselling sessions. This approach was blowing out…

Recently, headspace Collingwood had the pleasure of welcoming three federal MPs to our site for an important discussion on young men and mental health. 

Representatives from headspace, including CEO Jason Trethowan, Centre Manager David Hay and several young people from our Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), spoke with the Federal Member…

YSAS commends the State Government for funding the Victorian Pill Testing Service for the next two years, following Victoria’s successful drug-checking trial.

As part of this year’s State Budget the service received $9.6 million, which includes funding to continue operations through both a strengthened fixed site in Fitzroy, and at…

The 2025 Victorian Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Census has revealed that Victorian Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Services can make an extremely valuable contribution to preventing youth crime and improving community safety. 

The Census report details the needs and characteristics of 893 young people when they were first engaged by Victorian Youth Alcohol and Other…

At YSAS, youth participation isn’t just encouraged, it’s at the core of what we do. Two Youth Peer Advocates, Lucia and Kayla, have used their lived experience to shape services, support peers, and drive real change.

Both started their journey as clients – Lucia at headspace Collingwood, and Kayla at Birribi. Through giving feedback…

“Programs and services must wrap around young people and families and be shaped by their needs and preferences. Otherwise, young people can end up left bouncing between systems.”

It’s been two weeks since the 2025 YSAS Conference, where workers and sector leaders came together to explore integrated, responsive care and…

Emotional regulation is something most of us struggle with at different times, especially when we are young. “We know that adolescence is a period of time where you have less agency, drivers that differ from adults and there are more developmental changes going on,” says Kellie Ferris, Senior Trainer and…

Koorie Youth Council (KYC) Deputy CEO Leyla Quartermaine has known the power of the Aboriginal community since she was little. “I was raised by my grandmother, but also very much raised by the Victorian Aboriginal community,” says the proud Noongar woman. “I’m a pretty big example of it taking a…