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Young People's Health Service

• What we do
• Services within YPHS
• Frontyard Youth Services 
• Contact us  

What we do

Young People's Health Service wants to improve the health of young people who are between 12 & 22 years and are experiencing homelessness and includes young people in refuges and temporary accommodation.  The service is totally free and young people are encouraged to drop in during clinic hours. Nurses and doctors are available and provide treatment, information and referral as needed.

We can help out with many issues including:

• Sexual health
• Sexuality
• Chronic health issues
• Testing for hepatitis B & C, HIV and other infections
• Immunisations for Hepatitis B, Rubella, Tetanus, Polio, Flu
• Pregnancy care and support
• Parenting support and information
• Drug and alcohol issues, support, safe using information, detox and Methadone/Buprenorphine information
• Emotional and mental health; sadness, depression, anxiety, suicidal feelings
• Sexual assault
• Domestic Violence
• Skin problems; rashes, scabies, lice, foot problems
• Dental problems

Our Clinic is located with other services that can help young people with many issues.  This group of services is called Frontyard.

Services within YPHS

Counselling

The counselling service is the only part of YPHS that requires an appointment and three counselling times are available on each of the three days.

• Our counsellor: Juliet Watson
• Available:  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 1.30pm to 5:00pm
• To make at appt you can call: (03) 9611 2409 or drop-in and see one of the team to book you in.

Dentist

A dental therapist from Inner South community 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.  You can also just turn up on the day and if the dentist has time you will be seen.
Please note you must have a current health care card.

Outreach

A component of YPHS' service provision is to undertake outreach. We endeavour to be innovative in how we reach and engage our target group.
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 experiencing homelessness and/or who are at risk.
YPHS currently provides outreach to Stopover and T- street refuges, secure welfare and street outreach in collaboration with YSAS.

Research and Community Education

YPHS provides education sessions at various venues, to professional groups within the hospital and to different groups and organisations in the community. These sessions are developed and modified to respond to individual requests with the intention of providing an understanding of the health service and the health issues of the young people. 

Research by members of the health team currently being undertaken within the service relates to the sexually transmitted infection Chlamydia and to an evaluation of the service using the "Program Logic" model. Projects engaging with the young people have included a hip-hop project, a marketing of YPHS project and a safety in the city project.

Health Promotion

Health Promotion is a requirement of the Victorian Department of Human Services.  Health Promotion is a key strategic area of the Young People's Health Service.  Much of the Health Promotion work conducted by YPHS is developed from the evidence base and the expressed needs of young people experiencing homelessness.  To do this meaningfully, many of the health promotion projects are 'Needs assessment focused', or working with young people to identify what they believe is impacting on their overall health.  The evidence obtained is essential to the future strategic planning of YPHS.

Past health promotion work includes Photovoice as a needs based assessment, Young homeless peoples' perceptions of public safety (multi media DVD).  Hip Hop Sessions as a Social Marketing Strategy, Raising awareness of youth homelessness amongst RCH emergency and 3 east staff and involvement in research into the development of a general practitioner sex health screening tool for young people.

Frontyard Youth Services

Frontyard Youth Services is a collection of services that work together to address the physical, emotional 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

• Monday to Friday - 12.00pm to 5:00pm
• Melbourne City Mission
  19 King Street
  Melbourne 3000
• Phone: 03 9611 2409
• E-mail: young.people@rch.org.au

To speak with the Young People's Health Service nurses, call (03) 9345-7921 or email the above address.