Young People's Health Service
Background
The Young People's Health Service (YPHS) is a program of the Royal Children’s Hospital, Centre for Adolescent Health. It is the only primary health care service that specifically works with young people who are experiencing homelessness and/or marginalisation. Funding for the Service comes predominately through the Department of Health, Victoria.
YPHS was established in 1991 following recommendations made from the, ‘Our Homeless Children’ Report of the National Inquiry into Homeless Children by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 1989 (otherwise known as the Burdekin Report).
The experience of being homeless is unsafe, unhealthy and stressful. Studies show that many homeless young people suffer from physical and mental health problems. According to Australia’s Homeless Youth (2008) report, young people who are homeless, experience significantly poorer health outcomes than the general public. Despite this, young homeless people have greater difficulty accessing appropriate health services.
The social model of health acts as the basis for the practices of YPHS and thus recognises social inequality as a key determinant of ill health. As such, the work of YPHS includes advocacy in assisting young people to deal with their lives as well as working at a structural level to encourage other service providers to service what is perceived as a difficult client group.
What we do
We provide primary health services for young people aged 12 - 22 who are experiencing homelessness and/or marginalisation. Services are provided free – of – charge and young people are encouraged to drop in during clinic hours. Nurses, a counselor/care coordinator, doctors and other health staff are available to provide assessment, treatment, information and referral as needed. YPHS operates from a number of locations in the inner suburbs of
YPHS assists young people with many issues including:
- Sexual health
- Drugs and alcohol
- Emotional and mental health
- Skin problems; rashes, scabies, lice, foot problems
- Family and relationship problems, including violence
- Pregnancy
- Parenting
- Sexuality
- Chronic health issues
- Sexual assault
- Dental problems
Our main clinic is located within a co-located youth service that is based in
Services within YPHS
Primary care
Services provided include:
- Comprehensive health screening and assessment, harm minimisation risk assessment and education
- Pre/post HIV/Hep C test counselling
- Immunisations for health conditions such as Hepatitis B, Rubella, Tetanus, Polio, Influenza
- Emergency contraception
- Treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Treatment of acute health conditions such as viral infections, asthma management
- Wound care and skin related infections
- Mental health crisis response and support
- Specialist health referral and advocacy
YPHS employs the only nurse practitioner in
In addition, the service is staffed by Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) staff who are appointed to provide a clinical resource, clinical advisory/developmental role and undertake related projects and research and development activities to meet specified clinical nursing needs in adolescent health. In addition to this, the YPHS CNC's take referrals from, and deliver the clinical consultancy services to health professionals at multiple campuses/worksites.
The medical practitioners in YPHS are comprised of sessional general practitioners and Royal Children’s Hospital Paediatric Fellows. They are focused on medical diagnosis, medication prescription, specialist referral, ordering of diagnostic tests, management of complex medical issues and clinical consultation to YPHS staff.
Counselling/Care Coordination
The Counselling/Care Coordination service component is available to anyone who requires additional support with emotional and/or mental health issues. It provides:
- care planning, case management
- counselling and support
- supported referral and advocacy
The counsellor is available Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11.30am to
Outreach
A component of YPHS' service provision is to undertake outreach. We recognise that barriers such as lack of finance, transport, a support person, knowledge of services and negative past experiences with health professionals are all contributing factors that might hinder a young person accessing health services. The goal of outreach is to improve access to health care for young people who do not access Frontyard Youth Services.
YPHS currently provides outreach to inner-city refuges. Street outreach is also conducted on weekly basis throughout key locations in the CBD in collaboration with YSAS. With the support of the Flack Trust, we have been able to further extend this work.
Health Promotion
Health Promotion is a key strategic focus of the Young People's Health Service. Health Promotion work conducted by YPHS is developed from an evidence base and the expressed needs of young people experiencing homelessness and/or marginalization.
Current health promotion priorities include:
- Sexual health
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Service access
Dental Inreach
A dental therapist from Inner South Community Health Centre is available at YPHS clinic every second Friday from 2 - 4 pm. Appointments may be made at reception at Frontyard or by phone on (03) 9611 2411. Young people are able to be seen without an appointment if the dentist has time.
Clients are required to have a current health care card.
Other allied health inreach services
A podiatrist (every second Tuesday) and nutritionist (every second Thursday) from Doutta Galla Community Health Service are an addition to the service Appointments may be made at reception at Frontyard or by phone on (03) 9611 2411. Young people are also able to be seen without an appointment.
Frontyard Youth Services
Frontyard Youth Services is a co-location of youth specific services that work together to address the physical, emotional, educational, vocational, financial and social needs of young people aged 12 to 25 years who spend time in the Melbourne CBD and who are homeless or marginalised.
To find out more, visit www.frontyard.org or Phone 1800 800 531
Contact Us
Mark O’Brien, Nurse Unit Manager, Young People’s Health Service
The Royal Children’s Hospital
Phone: 03 9345 5888
Email: mark.obrien@rch.org.au