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.

Community partnerships to tackle ICE

A new initiative has been announced in Metropolitan Melbourne that aims to increase services and support in addressing growing ICE-related issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and the community.

The Aboriginal Metropolitan Ice Partnership initiative is an 18 month pilot project that reflects a new partnership approach between Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and Alcohol and Drug services.

This exciting initiative will focus on assertive outreach, alcohol and drug support and clinical interventions, as well as better access to alcohol and drug services for Aboriginal people and families with ICE and other alcohol and drug issues. There are nine positions in total being recruited, including a Coordinator position based at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service as well as four Care and Recovery positions and four Counselling positions.

Alcohol and Drug Support Workers positions will provide culturally responsive support and advocacy for Aboriginal clients and their families in supporting improved access to alcohol and drug treatment in relation to ICE use. This will involve referral and support services for Aboriginal people (youth and adult) and will support integrated treatment and care pathways for clients with the highest needs.

The Alcohol and Drug Counselling positions aim to reduce ICE-related harms by providing an assessment as well as range of counselling interventions to assist clients and their family members to change harmful behaviours. This should increase their capacity to effectively manage ICE-related impacts including issues associated with addictions.

This role also links Aboriginal clients and their families to other appropriate services and supports the provision of holistic coordinated care according to the complexity of client and family needs within a recovery framework.

One Alcohol and Drug Counselling position will be based at Monash Health – for a copy of the position description please see www.monashhealth.org or contact Debra Alexander on 9792 7618 for information relating to applying for the position.