YSAS outreach teams are based at eight sites across Melbourne and regional Victoria and work with young people between the ages of 12 - 21 who are experiencing significant problems with their alcohol and/or drug use.

YSAS outreach teams work closely with other YSAS services as well as other community-based agencies and specialist youth services in their community.

YSAS believes that a respectful, supportive and empathic relationship with a key outreach worker is an important part of drug and alcohol treatment. Outreach workers aim to facilitate change in problematic drug use and improvement in the quality of life of the young person.

Outreach workers provide a wide range of responses to alcohol and drug related problems, including:

• drug and alcohol assessment
• information and education on drug use
• health promotion and harm minimisation strategies
• access to treatment, support and welfare services
• access to YSAS home-based withdrawal
• access to YSAS residential services
• case-work, support and follow-up

YSAS outreach workers are trained and experienced in dealing with a range of issues that relate to drug use, including legal problems, mental health, homelessness, sexual abuse and family breakdown.

Interventions provided by our workers are sensitive to the diversity of needs that are associated with age, gender, socio-cultural and ethnic background.

Outreach teams can be accessed via:

YSASline on1800 014 446 (Freecall) or
through the YSAS Centres located at:

• Bendigo
• Box Hill
• City North West
• Frankston
• Dandenong~Springvale
• Latrobe Valley