Early Intervention Project: Transformers
Early Intervention Project: Transformers
Children and young people from refugee backgrounds are at high risk of exposure to factors that impact negatively on health and wellbeing, such as experiencing multiple losses and surviving torture and abuse. In addition, access to factors that are known to protect and promote health are often reduced in this group of young people. Without specialist and timely intervention, these young people may develop psychological and behavioural problems which will not only affect their capacity to resettle successfully but will also impact negatively on the wider community.
The Department of Health and Human Services has funded the Phoenix Centre to conduct an Early Intervention project. The project aims to provide support for children and young people who are at risk of developing mental health problems, or who are showing early behavioural symptoms of mental health problems by:
1. Working closely with schools and child care services to enhance awareness of these issues,
2. Building referral pathways to existing support services, and
3. Offering individual and group therapeutic intervention where required.
To facilitate referrals for young people from refugee backgrounds to appropriate services, the EIP staff have created a document titled “Health and Wellbeing Services Directory” for young people aged 0-25 and their families and carers. This Services Directory aims to provide current information about government and community support services available to young people and their families or carers. The Services Directory provides information on a range of services state-wide including mental health, accommodation, drug and alcohol, child protection and financial support among others.
To view the guide please click on the following:
