The state government has announced a $33 million boost to early intervention, youth mental health and community safety services across the state, including a string of new initiatives focused on helping at-risk youth in Melbourne’s west metro region.
According to the state government, the funding strengthens support for young Victorians at risk of disengagement, mental ill health and involvement with the justice system, with a strong focus on early intervention and community-led solutions.
In Melbourne’s west, a new Youth Mental Health Collaborative, backed by a $300,000 investment, will bring together state-funded services, local headspace centres, alcohol and other drug (AOD) services and community organisations to improve referral pathways and remove barriers to care for young people and their families.
The state government will also invest a further $280,000 to embed a culturally appropriate clinician within the West Metro Community Support Group, which it said would provide trauma-informed mental health and AOD care for young people from a South Sudanese background living in the west.
An additional $400,000 will expand Project Sunrise, an African-led project that provides AOD education and outreach services to African Australian youth and their families across Melbourne, including in Hume, Maribyrnong, Wyndham and Melton.
The state government said it would also roll out new programs coordinated by its new Violence Reduction Unit, including community support groups in Melton, Brimbank and Wyndham.
The community support groups will deliver a new youth employment program designed for multicultural young people.
Additional funding will also expand sports and recreation activities to give young people positive outlets, according to the state government.
A one-off $750,000 boost will support three South Sudanese community support groups which the state government said aims to meet increased demand, following recent tragic, violent incidents that have deeply affected these communities.
As part of the funding package, the government confirmed a $26.7 million expansion of the Community Forensic Youth Mental Health Service, which supports some of Victoria’s most vulnerable youth at high risk of offending.
The state government said the expanded program will offer more clinical assessments, treatment and assertive outreach to at-risk young people across Victoria so they can get the targeted, early intervention mental health care they need.
