New Geelong YPARC opens to support young people closer to home

Barwon Health has welcomed the opening of the new Geelong Youth Prevention and Recovery Care centre, known as YPARC, marking an important milestone for youth mental health and wellbeing across the Barwon South West Region. 

The new Geelong YPARC is a ten-bed facility that will provide a safe, welcoming environment for young people aged 16 to 25 who are experiencing mental health challenges. 

Barwon Health Chief Executive Frances Diver said the opening of this new service will provide more options to support young people and their families across Geelong and the Barwon South West Region. 

 “The opening of Geelong YPARC is important for our community and for the young people who will benefit from this service,” Ms Diver said. 

 “This centre will provide compassionate, recovery-focused care in a therapeutic environment, helping young people access the right support at the right time, closer to home. 

 “YPARC offers a step-up and step-down model of care, helping prevent hospital admission where possible and supporting young people as they transition from hospital back into the community.” 

 The Centre includes 10 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, a communal kitchen, dining and living areas, breakout spaces and outdoor garden areas designed to support recovery.  

 Ms Diver acknowledged the contribution of young people, families, carers, clinicians and project partners who helped shape the design of the centre. 

 “The design of Geelong YPARC has been informed by the insights and experiences of clinicians, carers and young people with lived and living experience of mental health challenges,” Ms Diver said.  

 “I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this project, including our Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Services teams, our consumer and carer partners, the Victorian Health Building Authority, the Victorian Government, and all staff involved in bringing this service to life.” 

The Geelong YPARC is part of the Victorian Government’s $141 million youth prevention and recovery care expansion and upgrade program, which is delivering new and refurbished YPARC centres across Victoria.  

Barwon Health will operate the Geelong YPARC service and actively engage with a range of community partners and non-government organisations to support the delivery of holistic, recovery-oriented care for young people. Key stakeholders include organisations such as headspace, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative and Meli, among others.  

Young people are already using the space through existing youth services, with structured day programs commencing in the coming weeks and the residential program expected to open in the coming months.