Victoria Boosts Mental Health and AOD Support for Young People
28 Jan 2026
Expansion of Community Forensic Youth Mental Health Service
The government is providing $21 million over five years and $5.7 million ongoing to expand the Community Forensic Youth Mental Health Service (Community FYMHS). This service supports young people with complex mental health and forensic needs.
Running since 2019, Community FYMHS is operated by Bayside Health in South-East Victoria and Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service in North-West Victoria. The expansion will allow more young people to receive specialist support, earlier.
Youth Outreach Clinician
A $282,000 investment over two years will fund a culturally appropriate youth outreach clinician, delivered by NAS Recovery in partnership with the West Metro Community Support Group. This clinician will provide integrated mental health and AOD care for multicultural and multifaith youth.
Youth Mental Health Collaborative
A further $300,000 over two years will create a youth mental health collaborative in Melbourne’s Western and North-Western suburbs. The collaborative will connect mental health and wellbeing services, local headspaces, and other community partners to identify and address barriers to care for young people at risk of offending.
These initiatives reflect Victoria’s commitment to early intervention, culturally responsive care, and coordinated support for young people with complex needs.
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/
Source: Victorian Government
