Youth Enhanced Service - Gippsland
Free mental health and wellbeing support for young people aged 12 to 25 years in Gippsland.
Are you a young person who’s looking to get the right support for your mental health? Our Youth Enhanced Service, known as the YES program, is here to help you.
We help young people aged 12-25 years who:
- live, work and/or study in Gippsland
- need more mental health support than is available through their doctor, school counsellor or headspace
- find it hard to access specialist services, such as those provided in hospitals.
It can be hard to know whether a service is right for you. We invite you to contact us to speak to our friendly staff about our service and your situation.
How we can help
We’ll work with you and your family to provide mental health and wellbeing support based on your needs and goals.
The best support for you can change over time depending on your needs, and might include:
- talking about your experiences and how they impact you
- thinking about new ways to look at and solve your problems
- helping you take part in work, study or other important activities
- counselling, group work and other types of support which can help you with your mental health
- case management (working with you to make plans) to help you achieve your goals
- developing a written care plan (a document which lists the support options you have talked about with the YES team member)
- including your family members in the process, if you want this
- connecting you with other services that can help.
If there’s another service which is a better fit for you, we’ll talk to you about this and help you to get the right support.
Accessing the program
You can access the YES program over the phone, online via video call, or in person at several locations across Gippsland, including Wonthaggi, Bairnsdale, Sale and Traralgon. We can also meet you at another location that’s easier for you to get to.
We're available:
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Mental Health Navigators
These experienced mental health clinicians will work with you for up to 12 months.
They will:
- help you to identify your goals and strategies to achieve them
- involve you in decision-making about your care
- support your mental health with proven and effective strategies and approaches.
Lived Experience Peer Workers
These are young people on our team who have experience of mental health challenges and know what you’re going through.
They can:
- help you advocate for what you need
- share their personal mental health journeys
- answer questions about our services
- help you to develop and refine life skills such as setting goals
- connect you with other services, programs and support groups who can help.
Everything we do in the YES program is based on real (lived) experience. Most importantly, if you decide to come and check us out, you’ll receive support which is relevant to your lived experience.
You’ll be the one making the decisions about the support you receive and who you want involved. This might include our team and your family, friends and others that are important in your life.
When developing the YES program, we asked young people in Gippsland about the support young people need and how they want to be treated in their mental health journey. These answers have informed how we deliver the program. We’ll continue to listen to you and adjust our service based on what you tell us.
We’ll also ask for feedback from a range of people including our:
- Lived Experience Peer Workers
- youth reference group which is made up of local young people who understand mental health challenges.
- family/friends reference group which is made up of people who have experience supporting young people with mental health challenges.
You don’t need a referral to contact us or access the YES program. If you would like your practitioner, such as your doctor or psychologist, to contact us and introduce you, we welcome this.
Family members and friends can also contact us on your behalf, if you’re comfortable with that and tell them it’s okay.
Relationships Australia Victoria, also known as RAV, is leading the YES program across Gippsland. We are a not-for-profit organisation that supports people with their relationships, family and wellbeing. We work across Victoria and have been providing support in Gippsland for over 60 years. Our services include support for young people and we run 3 headspace sites in Bairnsdale, Sale and Wonthaggi.
The YES program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Administration of funding is carried out by Gippsland Primary Health Network.
We work with several other organisations in the Gippsland area to provide our services. Our partners are:
- Youth Advocacy and Support Service
- Eating Disorders Victoria
- Dr Leeanne Fisher, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist
- Jo Rouse, Senior Occupational Therapist, The Social Confidence Collective
- Dr Erin Dolan, Clinical Psychologist, Erin Dolan and Associates
- Dr Anna Howsen, General Practitioner, Wonthaggi Medical Group
Contact us
Talk to us today about how we can support you:
- Phone 1300 071 166
- Email yesinfo@rav.org.au
- Fill out the form below.
Please note that the YES program isn’t a crisis service. If you feel unsafe, call Emergency Services on 000. If you need to talk to someone straight away, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Learn more about our mental health services
Child and youth safety
Keeping children and young people safe is a priority at Relationships Australia Victoria. View our statement of commitment and Code of Conduct to learn more.
Connect Me
Free counselling and support for 4-11-year-old children in Gippsland experiencing mental health challenges such as anxiety, distress and trouble sleeping.
Counselling
A confidential service that provides a safe and supportive space to talk about difficulties or challenges. It can help to improve wellbeing, relieve distress and strengthen relationships. For individuals, couples and families.
early matters
Free programs to support parents and children in specific areas of Ballarat and Sunshine to manage family changes and developmental transitions that may negatively impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
Family Advocacy and Support Services - Mental Health Support
Free mental health support for people with matters in the family law court.
headspace Bairnsdale
Free and low-cost support for young people in Bairnsdale who need help with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drugs or work and study support.
headspace Sale
Free and low-cost support for young people in the Wellington Shire area who need help with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drugs or work and study support.
headspace Wonthaggi
Free and low-cost support for young people in Bass Coast and South Gippsland who need help with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drugs or work and study.
i-Connect
A free family mental health support service for children and young people in East Gippsland at risk of or affected by mental illness.
Men Being Well
A free group program supporting men to discuss life challenges, learn from each other about mental health and wellbeing, and focus on healthy relationships.
Respect and Connect
A skills-based schools’ program for students on healthy relationships, gender equality, mental wellbeing, communication and managing emotions.