Taking the dark into light

The art room at the Dandenong Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) typifies all that is inspiring about the recovery work going on there.

The art room at Dandenong YPARC is flooded with natural light, has musical instruments at one side and surrounding the fresh, white work benches are walls holding artworks by the creative young people.

Emma is one of the talented artists whose work was on show at the YPARC’s first Family and Friends Night earlier this year. Emma’s beautiful drawing Bliss shows her standing on a look-out with a sweeping view of the famous surfing spot, Bells Beach, in south-eastern Victoria near the Great Ocean Road.

“My drawing is about me looking forward to a future. And coming here (to the Dandenong YPARC) has helped me visualise a future.

“I would not have drawn this if I had not seen health and hope,” she says.

In her recovery work, Emma says it’s important not to completely forget experiences which have come from dark places.

“I am feeling better and that also means I can still live with dark times. And sharing these experiences brings people together,” she says.

“I have learned a lot about acceptance and looking forward. And not disliking yourself for having issues. Recovery to me is about implementing better strategies for future living,” Emma explains.

She praises the openness of the Dandenong YPARC, in both its architecture and also the attitudes of the other young people and staff who are there.

“There’s a positive vibe here as soon as you come in. And I am totally grateful to the key workers who keep our recovery goals in check.”

Dandenong YPARC is run by Monash Health with partners Mind Australia and Youth Support and Advocacy Service.