We want all young people to grow up being safe and healthy, attending and enjoying school, having friends and having a positive approach to life.
Information for providers of youth programs
The Youth Central website has lots of information about study and training, jobs and careers, advice for life and getting involved.
There is also a range of information and advice services available on the DHHS services site.
Frontyard Youth Services is for young people aged between 12 and 25 years. Frontyard services meet the physical, social and emotional needs of at risk young people. You can contact them on 1800 800 531 or after hours on 1800 627 727.
The Child and Family Services can help when a young person and family are experiencing serious difficulties affecting their own and family life. Child FIRST (Child and Family Information, Referral and Support Teams) are the entry point into family services.
Contact Child Protection if there are reasonable grounds for believing a child is at risk of suffering significant harm.
For more information about supports for young people, see Early intervention and support on our Services website.
The following are some of the support programs available for young people who are experiencing challenges:
Adolescent Family Violence
Adolescent Family Violence services help reduce the occurrence of family violence by increasing the safety of family members. They provide family-based case management and group-based support to young people using violence against a parent or carer.
You can read more about these programs on the Family violence page on this website.
Adolescent Support Program
Adolescent Support Program supports young people living independently or at home and those who may be current or past clients of child protection. Support aims to reduce the need for ongoing protective services involvement.
Referrals to this program come through Child Protection.
For more information about Adolescent Support Program, see Adolescent Support Program on our Services website.
Finding Solutions program
Finding Solutions supports young people and their families to help them address issues that may lead to family breakdown. Finding Solutions is for young people of secondary school age and their families who are known to Child Protection.
Referrals come through Child Protection.
For more information about Finding Solutions, see Finding Solutions on our Services website.
Read also the Youth Services CRISSP business practice guidelines for Finding Solutions on the CRISSP training page on our Funded Agency Channel.
See the Finding Solutions program guidelines in related resources at the bottom of the page.
Leaving Care and Aboriginal Leaving Care
Leaving Care consists of a range of services and supports to assist young people aged 16 to 21 years of age to transition from out-of-home care to independent living and adulthood.
Aboriginal leaving care aims to provide culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal young people transitioning from out-of-home care, including kinship care from 16 to 21 years of age.
Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative
The Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative (MACNI) is a time-limited specialist service for people 16 years and older, who have been identified as having multiple and complex needs.
MACNI's primary purpose is to facilitate better coordination of supports and services to people with complex needs, deliver holistic care and prevent further escalation of need. Participation in MACNI is voluntary.
For more information see Specialist disability support.
Refugee Minor Program
The Refugee Minor Program assists refugees who are under 18 years of age and without a parent or guardian, to help them settle into a new life in Victoria.