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Cire welcomes role in new $4.5m youth health hub

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A new youth health hub for young people with locations in Lilydale, Belgrave, Healesville and Yarra Junction is on track to open in August 2020.

Cire Services Inc. is excited and proud to be part of the consortia behind the hub, which is lead by Inspiro Community Health Service and includes Oonah Health and Community Services Aboriginal Corporation, Anchor and Eastern Legal Community Centre.

In March 2019, the Australian Government announced $4.5m funding for the Integrated Youth Health Hub (IYHH), which will provide young people, and their families and carers with a single entry point to access a range of no-cost or low-cost primary health care, community and social services.

The Knox headspace satellite in Lilydale, which is separately funded by the Australian Government, will work in collaboration with the hub.

Cire CEO Gus Seremetis said the consortia partners bring diverse skills and expertise, as well as additional venues across the Yarra Ranges, with a strong local presence and connections.

“As well as adding value, this will create opportunities for more community involvement.

“We will also work closely with Yarra Ranges Council and other agency partners to bring the Hub to life,” she said

Federal Member for Casey Tony Smith MP welcomed the announcement that locally-based organisations will run the new Integrated Youth Health Hub for Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN).

“With $4.5 million of Federal Government funding over three years, the Lilydale-based hub, along with a separately funded headspace satellite service, will deliver vital health and support services for young people aged between 12 and 25 living in the outer east, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.

“Having fought for improved youth health services, it’s great to know the hub and headspace satellite service will soon get underway and be making a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

EMPHN CEO, Janine Wilson, said the service aims to improve access, service coordination and integration for young people in the region.

“Through the hub, young people and their families will be able to access a range of health and wellbeing activities; mental, physical and sexual health services, including access to a General Practitioner; as well as alcohol and other drugs services, and community and social services such as housing and legal assistance,” she said.

Inspiro Community Health CEO Sue Sestan said the activities and services will be delivered by the consortium members and a range of other local partners.

“How the services are delivered will be guided by the voice of young people from the area via a Youth Reference Group.

“The services will be appropriate to the local community, providing connections, interventions and seamless care to young people where and when they need it,” she said.

Oonah CEO Anne Jenkin said our experience of embracing and supporting our young people and celebrating culture is key to our identity.

“We’re pleased to be bringing that expertise and approach into the hub development with our partners,” she said.

Anchor CEO Heidi Tucker said the hub will feature a strong ‘lived experience’ workforce.

“We will employ staff who have used a variety of health services as young people who will assist other young people to navigate and use the services they need,” she said.

Eastern Community Legal Centre CEO Michael Smith said young people need to feel they belong and can trust the services they access.

“Once they have that, they usually don’t want to retell their story to lots of different professionals.

“The hub gives us a real opportunity to wrap health and other supports around them, with confidentiality and care,” he said.

The hub will be located in Lilydale with outreach services operating from Belgrave, Healesville and Yarra Junction.

The hub was co-designed with local health and community services, the education sector, Yarra Ranges Council, youth representatives and other community members.

A Youth Reference Group will be involved in designing, monitoring and evaluating hub activities and services during its operation.

The hub is currently funded until 30 June 2022 by the Australian Government under the PHN program.

Integrated Youth Health Hub (IYHH)

YVCS Students gain skills on mental health

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Yarra Valley Community School was successful in obtaining funding via Yarra Ranges Youth Services Resilience funding program. Using this grant we sourced and implemented a training program with all the Yarra Junction campus VCAL students. The training was called teen Mental Health First Aid (teen MHFA) which  was conducted in term 2 this year.

The course consisted of three full sessions of facilitated workshops which gives students the skills they need to recognise and help with mental health problems and the signs to look for in friends, and how to get the help of an adult quickly. Young people often help each other when they are feeling upset or stressed. The course gave attendees the tools needed to seek help and not take on the problems that a friend may be experiencing alone. Similar to the well-known physical First Aid the course covers the basics of mental health disorders which includes; how to recognise symptoms to help and when to call for external supports. At the completion of the three components the students were issued with a certificate which comes with international recognition.

The essence of the course is for the students to familiarise themselves with mental health language, supports and processes for referral within the broader community. The aim was to destigmatise mental health labels and increase the individual student’s mental health literacy.

To celebrate their efforts in undertaking this at times confronting training, the students were treated to a warm homemade lunch each week followed by a game of basketball to unwind at the Yarra Centre in Yarra Junction.

“The students really enjoyed the course and gained skills that will assist them well into their futures which is what our education programs strive to do. Proud to have participated and warmed all those student belly’s”. Kerry Ditcham YVCS Student Wellbeing Officer

Huge warm and wonderful thanks to Denise Warmington for running this brilliant program.

Congratulations to the students who achieved their certificates. 

To find out more about our VCAL program click here or call 03 5967 1776 Yarra Junction and 03 9736 1457 Mt Evelyn.