Youth Focus will move to the new Peel Health Hub in a collaborative venture that will ensure better access to mental health support for young people and their families.
In an Australian first, the centre in Allnutt Street, Mandurah will offer a client centred, GP supported and collaborative model of care.
Youth Focus will move its Mandurah operations to the new centre on Monday (December 17). In addition, the organisation’s Rockingham service will relocate from its current premises to the Westerly Family Centre in Cooloongup two days a week.
The Peel Health Hub draws together a raft of services including GP down south, the Peel Youth Medical Service, headspace Mandurah, Palmerston Association, Allambee and Jobs South West. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) plan to re-locate to the centre in early 2019.
Service providers will work together to offer mental health, drug and alcohol services, family violence and sexual assault support, vocational training and family support.
Youth Focus General Manager for Operations Emma Brierty said the move to the Peel Health Hub would improve access to important health services and enable Youth Focus to support more young people in Mandurah and the greater Peel region.
“This new facility is effectively a one-stop-shop that will allow better access for young people in need of medical treatment and mental health support,” Ms Brierty said.
“The collaborative model will ensure we are working as productively as possible to realise the best health outcomes for young people across the region. We look forward to sharing resources to best support some of the most vulnerable young people in our community.”
Youth Focus statistics supports an average of 100 young people a year through its Mandurah, Rockingham and Kwinana services.
Last financial year, Youth Focus supported a record number of young people in WA, providing free counselling and assessment services to 3678 young people and school and community education to another 6000.
If you or someone you know needs urgent support please contact the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Cox – 0419 941 443, [email protected]