Youth services in Hunter New England

We will usually contact you. You can call (02) 4923 6041 between 8am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. 

If we are unable to answer please leave a message, we check these regularly.

We offer young people a confidential health and wellbeing assessment, exploring key areas of their life to better understand their needs. 

From there, we walk alongside the young person to set personalised goals, empowering them to take charge of their health in a way that works best for them.

Note: Youth Health is not a specialist mental health service. If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. 

If you or someone you know is in a crisis situation or needs urgent medical attention, call 000 (triple zero) or go to the nearest Emergency Department. 

Our team

If you would like to find out more about our service or discuss a potential referral, please email HNELHD-YouthHealthTeam@health.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 4925 7804 between 8am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.  

If we are unable to answer please leave a message, we check these regularly.

1. First appointment - We'll talk to you about all aspects of your life. As part of getting to know you, our team:
   • will ask questions about your physical and psychosocial health including your substance use and about your family
   • may conduct a physical examination, blood work and catch-up on your vaccinations on-site, only if needed.
2. Second appointment and clinical review - We complete your assessment and goal planning. The YDACS team will conduct a clinical review, discuss and plan how we can best support you around your:
   • substance use 
   • life and health
   • emotional regulation techniques.
3. Meet with other clinicians - You'll meet with other members of our clinical team as needed and review any additional concerns. 
4. Work on your goals - You'll keep seeing your lead clinician and continue to work on your life goals. 
5. Review progress - We'll schedule a mid-way appointment with you to review your progress and goals. Our team will conduct a clinical review and make any adjustments needed to best support you. 
6. Discharge appointment - Our team will meet to review your plan and prepare for your discharge appointment. We'll meet with you to go over your journey, plan any onward referrals and your discharge plans.

We encourage you to ask us any questions or discuss anything you would like to address while you're with us. 

Book an appointment

Young people can refer themselves to our service. Call 1800 950 755 or email HNELHD-YouthDACS@health.nsw.gov.au to book an appointment. 

Families and carers can use the same number and email for information and support. 

We understand that families and carers of young people are their greatest strength and best support. Whenever possible, we make sure families are included in the assessment and treatment.

Referrals

Any service provider can make a referral to our service, including:

• police
• schools 
• GPs (General Practitioners)
• community health services
• inpatient hospital units
• Department of Communities and Justice.

To make a referral, use the Youth, Drug and Alcohol Clinical Service referral form.

Cancel an appointment

If you need to cancel your appointment:

• let your lead clinician know on their work mobile by call or text
• call 1800 950 755 if you have lost your lead clinician's number, and we can reschedule your appointment for another time that suits you best.

Phone:1800 950 755

Email:HNELHD-YouthDACS@health.nsw.gov.au 

YDACS Newcastle street address: 

Thwaites Building
4/72 Watt Street
Newcastle NSW 2300

YDACS Taree street address:

Macquarie Street Centre
Suite 1, 1/7 Macquarie Street
Taree NSW 2430

Within the Hunter New England Local Health District, a team is available to assist young people and their families with the transition process. For young people who may never be fully independent, tailored support is available to ensure families and caregivers receive the guidance and resources they need.

The Transition Care Service helps young people (14 to 25 years) with chronic health conditions to prepare to manage their health care more independently, including:

• Increasing self-management skills, adjust to new services, attend healthcare appointments, and take on more responsibility for their own care when appropriate.

The service also supports young people & carers by:

• Assisting with transition planning from children to adult health services and liaising with services
• Finding adult healthcare services to suit young people’s needs.
• Supporting families & carers helping their young person transition.
• Attending first adult health care appointments and transition clinics if required.

A young person with chronic health conditions (14-25 years) who:

• lives in NSW Central Coast, Hunter, New England, mid north or northern NSW
• has a chronic health condition or disability (excluding a primary diagnosis of mental health conditions) that needs complex case coordination to transition to adult specialist health services.

The young person’s family or carer.

Healthcare professionals, schoolteachers, case workers and others who support the young person with the young person’s permission.

The referral should be emailed to HNELHD-TransitionCareYoungPerson@health.nsw.gov.au or faxed to (02) 4924 5781

Download the referral form
 

File

The Transition Care Service is based at 621 Hunter Street , Newcastle, NSW 2002.

Phone (02) 4925 7804 or M. 0434 361 202. Email HNELHD-TransitionCareYoungPerson@health.nsw.gov.au

The Transition Care Service works closely with The Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) Transition Care Service and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network’s Trapeze Service.

For more transition information and resources go to the Transition Care Network website.

Young people, families and carers can find information, factsheets, and checklists about moving to adult health services including common issues to address during the process. For parents and carers of young people with intellectual disability.

• Your Room - Alcohol and Drug Information Service developed by NSW Health and St Vincent's.
• Your Room for Aboriginal People - Alcohol and Drug Information Service developed by NSW Health and St Vincent's. 
• Positive Choices - online portal to help Australian schools and communities get accurate, up-to-date evidence-based alcohol and other drug education resources.
• Family Drug Support Australia - 24 x 7 telephone support line, support groups and information hub for families affected by alcohol and other drug issues.
• Alcohol and Drug Foundation - free and confidential support and recommendations for anyone affected by alcohol and other drugs.
• Cracks in the Ice - online toolkit with trusted, evidence-based information about crystal methamphetamines for the Australian community.
• Safe Haven - free safe space with peer-support workers and mental health professionals.

Learn more about alcohol and other drugs support services in Hunter New England.

• ACON - is NSW's leading health organisation for LGBTQIA+ people and people living with HIV.
• Twenty10 - supports people across Sydney and NSW who may be LGBTIQA+ (people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or gender diverse, intersex, queer, asexual or those who are questioning their identity).
• LGBTIQ+ Health Australia - national peak body for LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing

Learn more about transgender and gender diversity services in Hunter New England. 

• Youth Law Australia - free and confidential legal advice about your health care rights.
• healthdirect Find a GP - use this guided search tool to find a GP (general practice) near you.
• Get your Medicare card - learn how to get, use and replace your Medicare card.
• General health information - information about general health conditions and being prepared for emergencies
• Eat for health - Australian dietary guidelines on eating for health and wellbeing
• Butterfly - support for eating disorders and body image issues.

• Family planning Australia - leading provider of reproductive and sexual health services. Free and confidential safe space for young people to find reproductive and sexual health information and services. 
• Body Talk - information for young people about their body, relationships and health.
• Play Safe - information for young people aged 15 - 25 years about healthy sex and relationships, STI (sexually transmitted infections) testing, and sexual health education.

 Learn more about sexual health services in Hunter New England.

• ReachOut - Australia's leading online mental health organisation for young people and their patients. Provides practical support, tools and tips for everyday issues and tough times. 
• headspace - Australia's National Youth Mental Health foundation provides early intervention mental health service to young people aged 12 - 25 years. The service offers phone and online support and helps with physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug services, work and study support.
• Beyond Blue for youth - youth and mental health support for people aged 12 - 25 years.
• NSW Health mental health services and support - mental health services and support contact list in NSW.
• Safe Haven - free safe space with peer-support workers and mental health professionals.
• Kids helpline - free support and counselling (talking through problems) for people aged 12 - 25 years.
• Bite Back Mental Fitness Challenge - designed by the Black Dog Institute, it sets 6 weekly challenges to help you improve your mental fitness, increase happiness, reduce stress, improve your friendships and your focus. 

Learn more about mental health services in Hunter New England.

• Coercive control - is domestic abuse and can cause serious harm, so it's important to know the signs. 
• What's OK at Home? - helps young people understand what family violence is, why it happens, how to recognise it and help others who are experiencing it.
• Domestic and family violence support in NSW 
• 1800RESPECT - National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service.

Mental health

• Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800
• Mental Healthline - 1800 011 511
• Headspace - 1800 650 890

Alcohol and other drugs

• Family Drug Support - 1300 368 186
• Alcohol Drug Information Service - 1800 250 015

Sexual health

• Family Planning NSW - 1300 658 886