YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAM

This program promotes the well-being and health of young people who are experiencing interpersonal and social functioning problems related to drug use.

Who?
Clients are aged 12 to 25, at risk of misusing drugs, experimenting or may already be addicted. Clients can be referred from a range of sources, including health, welfare, community organizations, youth organisations/networks or they or their families/friends may self-refer.

Clients should phone our Receptionist/ Advice Worker on (07) 5535 4302 to make enquiries about accessing the service.

How?
The service includes counselling, psycho-education and arts-based therapeutic groups, all within a harm-minimisation model. It provides early interventions e.g. anger management, problem-solving, goal-setting and stress management) and psycho-education for young people around alcohol and drug mis-use. The Program also embraces a solution orientation, where a young person's strengths are recognized and encouraged.

One-on-one counseling by an experienced Youth Counsellor is conducted on a weekly or fort-nightly basis dependent on the needs of clients. For some clients arts-based group activity is also available to meet their particular needs.

Clients can also be referred to the D.R.A.S.T.I.C. Program, which is about young people exploring their identity, their friendship, their environment and their world and sharing it with the wider community.

Where?
The Youth Out-Reach Program is based at the Gold Coast Drug Council, 191 West Burleigh Road, Burleigh Heads, Qld.

Cost?
This program is free of charge to clients.

The Program is funded by the Australian Department of Health & Ageing as part of the National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS).