Five new YPARCs for young Victorians
Five new Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) centres will provide an alternative to hospital admission for young people aged 16-25 years. The YPARCs will support more than 900 extra young Victorians each year to get the tailored support they need in a crisis. The new facilities will more than double the capacity of the state's current YPARC network.
The Victorian Government has now confirmed the locations of the five new centres:
- Greater Geelong (operated by Barwon Health)
- Greater Ballarat (operated by Grampians Health)
- Greater Shepparton (operated by Goulburn Valley Health)
- Heidelberg (operated by Austin Health)
- Traralgon (operated by the Latrobe Regional Hospital)
The YPARCs will have a welcoming and home-like environment with private bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. Communal kitchens, dining and living areas, breakout spaces and an outdoor garden will also encourage rest and recovery. The centres will also support family visits for young people during their recovery. Funding will also refurbish three existing YPARC centres in Bendigo, Dandenong and Frankston.
The new builds and refurbishments will be led by the Victorian Health Building Authority. Work is due to commence next year and be completed by 2023.
