Innovative youth program is an award finalist

28 Jun 2017

28 June 2017

An innovative, early intervention youth outreach program run by St John of God Health Care’s Social Outreach Division in Perth’s northern suburbs is a finalist in this year’s prestigious WA Mental Health Awards.

The Youth Support Outreach Program provides individualised and intensive support to young people aged 16 to 18 and their families who are disengaged from education and their community. 

The program, which is co-funded by the WA Department of Education North Metropolitan Regional Education Office, aims to empower young people who are dropping out of school by providing them with individual support and connecting them to appropriate support services. 

Director Youth and Accommodation Services Ros Fahey said that being a finalist at the awards was a great recognition of the uniqueness of the program developed between the WA Department of Education and Social Outreach over a number of years. 

“We are proud of our program and are delighted to be part of this year’s awards. The Youth Support Outreach Program supports some of the most vulnerable young people in the WA community,” she said. 

“The personalised care has proven to support positive outcomes for the young people engaged in the program; in the past year 50 per cent of participants connected with community support services and improved their engagement in education.” 

Outcomes of the program include improved resilience among young people as well as self-management, improved emotional well being and engagement in education and social activity. 

The program has been shortlisted in the Diversity Award category and winners will be announced at the award ceremony on Thursday 13 July.   

The Awards are hosted by the Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) with the support of the Mental Health Commission.