Anglicare’s Yass Valley Youth Support is designed to provide management and referral to specialist services combined with client focused case management and support, where it is needed most.

Toni Reay, regional manager of housing and social services for Anglicare NSW South, said it is about reaching out to families and young people in need of help and linking them with the right support services at the right time.

“It is about early intervention, trying to get to those who need our support earlier, before family breakdown occurs, for better outcomes for all,” she said.

“We are really excited about bringing this program to Yass as there is a definite need here.”

Providing information and advice to young people can include, but is not limited to, health, relationships, education, employment, legal issues, drug and alcohol.

“We hope to provide a holistic approach, to be a referral point as well as working with the entire family unit,” Ms Reay said.

The program is not limited to young people and can be accessed by the entire support network, including parents and caregivers, local schools and teachers.

Youth will be case managed with their individual needs identified and supported following a client focused model. This is to ensure the young person is being supported in the best way possible and they are active in driving their own goals.

“It is for young people disengaging from school, those needing referrals to medical services, those needing transport to appointments, young parents, parents with children aged 0-3 years and families struggling with mental health issues,” Ms Reay said.

“Our youth support worker Melissa O’Neill is attending schools in the area to ask exactly what they need from us. It’s early days but we want to say that we are here if you need us.”

The Yass Valley Youth Support program is available at no cost to the young person or their family and is funded by Family and Community Services. To refer, contact Melissa O’Neil on 0428 691 349, 6226 4872 or Melissa.ONeill@anglicare.com.au