Youth prevention and recovery care centre expansion and upgrade program

YPARC services provide treatment, care and support to young people aged 16-25 who are experiencing mental health challenges and/or psychological distress.

YPARC centres are voluntary, referral-based services. Young people can continue to attend work or school, while receiving the appropriate treatment, care and support they need in a safe, home-like environment.

The YPARC model holistically addresses the needs of young people by working in partnership with other services. These services can include:

• local youth mental health and wellbeing service providers, like Headspace
• alcohol and other drug (AOD)
• housing
• primary care
• education and vocational/training.

YPARC services offer a step up and step down model of care. They provide:

• early intervention for people who are unwell (step up)
• a community-based treatment option for people in the early stages of recovery and need a short period of extra support (step down).

How to access YPARC services

To access a YPARC service, a young person needs to have a referral from:

• a local mental health and wellbeing service, such as Headspace
• a general practitioner or other specialist medical practitioner, such as a private psychiatrist
• an infant, child and youth area mental health and wellbeing service.

There are currently three existing 10-bed YPARC centres in Victoria. The services are located in Bendigo, Dandenong and Frankston.

In early 2022, a new 20-bed centre opened in Parkville.

Other types of prevention and recovery care (PARC) centres in Victoria

In addition to YPARC services, there are also service models that cater to adults. These adult PARC services include a women’s service and an extended stay service.

The average length of stay is between seven and 14 days, with a maximum stay of 28 days. The exception to this is the extended PARC service where the expected stay is up to six months.

Regional capacity

The final report from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (Recommendation 21) recommended there is a YPARC facility in each Victorian region.

The Department of Health has developed eight regions that align with the Royal Commission’s recommendations.

New centres

• Barwon South West (Greater Geelong)
• Gippsland (Traralgon)
• Grampians (Greater Ballarat)
• Hume (Greater Shepparton)
• North East Metro (Heidelberg)
• West Metro (Parkville). A new 20-bed facility opened in early 2022. This $11.9 million project was funded under the 2018/19 State Budget.

Refurbished facilities

• Loddon Mallee (Bendigo)
• South East Metro (Dandenong and Frankston).

The program will deliver:

New facilities

Each of the five new facilities will include:

• 10 single bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms
• communal kitchens, dining and living areas
• breakout spaces
• outdoor gardens.

Refurbished facilities

The three refurbishment projects at existing facilities will update:

• exteriors
• internal fit-outs
• outdoor areas.

The program aims to achieve the following benefits:

Support closer to home

In some areas of Victoria young people travel some distance to access appropriate mental health services and support.

Building these facilities in key regional areas will allow access to services closer to their family, support networks and local community – which plays a proven role in a young person's recovery journey.

Home-like and welcoming environment

The new centres will be designed to create a welcoming, safe and therapeutic environment.

They include private bedrooms complete with ensuite bathrooms. Communal kitchens, dining and living areas, breakout spaces and outdoor garden areas will provide ample space for leisure, recreational activities, and family visits.

Co-designed facilities

Designs for the new and upgraded centres draw on the insights and experiences of clinicians, carers and young people with lived experience of mental ill health.

Greater access to care

Once complete, the five new centres will have the capacity to provide prevention and recovery care services for more than 900 young people each year. This will more than double current capacity.

Reducing hospital admissions and length of stay

The program will help ease pressure on hospital beds by providing early intervention care and an alternative to hospital admission.

More local jobs

The program is expected to create and sustain around 200 construction industry jobs.

New centres

• Greater Ballarat
  31-39 Durham St, Newington
  Operated by: Grampians Health
   
• Greater Geelong
  40 Little Fyans Street, South Geelong
  Operated by: Barwon Health
   
• Greater Shepparton
  5-7 Numurkah Rd and 107-109 Balaclava Road, Shepparton
  Operated by: Goulburn Valley Health
   
• Heidelberg
  Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
  Operated by: Austin Health
   
• Traralgon
  49-63 Hyde Park Road, Traralgon
  Operated by: Latrobe Regional Hospital

Upgraded centres

• Bendigo
  Operated by: Bendigo Health
   
• Dandenong
  Operated by: Monash Health
   
• Frankston
  Operated by: Peninsula Health.

Designs for the new and upgraded centres draw on the insights and experiences of clinicians, carers and young people with lived experience of mental ill health.

New facilities

Each of the five new facilities will have 10 have private bedrooms complete with ensuite bathrooms. Communal kitchens, dining and living areas, breakout spaces and an outdoor garden will encourage rest and recovery, and support family visits.

NTC Architects are overseeing the designs of the five new YPARC centres.  

Refurbishments

The refurbishments at three existing centres in Bendigo, Dandenong and Frankston will update the facilities’ exteriors, internal fit-outs and outdoor areas, including barbecue spaces and a sensory courtyard.

Bamford Architects developed the designs for the three refurbishments. Designs were released in July 2022. 

View designs for refurbished centers in Bendigo, Dandenong and Frankston.
 

Local residents will be informed ahead of any potentially disruptive construction activity.

We will work closely with the appointed builder and Council, to minimise impacts to locals during construction.

All works will be carried out in strict accordance with approved Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Council guidelines and within approved construction work hours. 

Who can I contact about construction impacts?

If you have any questions or wish to speak to the project team, please contact the Victorian Health Building Authority at vhba@health.vic.gov.au.

Refurbishments

Works will be planned and managed to minimise impact to consumers, staff and families.

This project is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with:

Design and construction

• NTC Architects (new centres)
• Bamford Architects (existing centres)
• Alchemy Construct (upgrades to the existing Bendigo YPARC centre)
• Bowden Corporation (upgrades to the existing Dandenong and Frankston YPARC centres).

Health services

• Austin Health
• Barwon Health
• Bendigo Health
• Grampians Health
• Goulburn Valley Health
• Latrobe Regional Hospital
• Monash Health
• Peninsula Health.