The planned 10-bed residential facility run by Goulburn Valley Health is part of a $141 million Victorian Government investment announced on Wednesday, November 17.
The government funding will see Youth Prevention and Recovery Care facilities built in Shepparton, Ballarat, Geelong, Heidelberg and Traralgon.
GV Health executive director of community care and mental health Josh Freeman said the new YPARC in Shepparton would offer “a home-like environment” and provide an alternative to inpatient care in a hospital environment, where clinically appropriate.
“The YPARC will create a welcoming environment with private bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms,” he said.
“Communal kitchens, dining and living areas, breakout spaces and an outdoor garden will also encourage rest and recovery — as well as support family visits for people during their recovery.”
Victorian Prevention and Recovery Care facilities are sub-acute mental health services operating in community settings to treat and support people recovering from a severe and acute mental health episode by providing a mix of clinical and psychosocial support.
PARC facilities offer short-term, residential treatment services with a recovery focus.
They exist to prevent avoidable admissions to acute mental health units and re-admissions following an acute episode.
GV Health chief executive Matt Sharp said a YPARC for the Hume region presented an exciting step to enhance the mental health services available to young people in the area.
“We are thrilled that GV Health will play such an important role in delivering this service,” he said.
Mr Freeman said the Goulburn Valley Area Mental Health service within GV Health was a national innovator in PARC services.
“The GV Health adult PARC was the first of its kind in Australia and has been operational since 2003,” he said.
“The YPARC will build on this and will ensure young people aged 16 to 25 in the Shepparton and broader Hume region are supported on their care pathway, to provide a fully immersive model of care tailored to the mental health needs of care recipients.”
The state government funding announcement comes after the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System final report recommended every region had a YPARC service for young people aged 16 to 25, supported through a common and consistent model of care.
At the time the final report was published there were three YPARC facilities in Victoria, in Bendigo, Frankston and Dandenong, with a fourth to come in Parkville.
Bendigo Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service consultant psychiatrist John Cooper spoke about the importance of the youth facilities during the royal commission.
"It’s an excellent model that keeps kids out of hospital,“ he said.
Mr Freeman said the YPARC would complement the Child and Youth Mental Health Service operated by GV Health, and the headspace Shepparton service.
GV Health will begin work with the Victorian Health Building Authority to identify a site for the YPARC and will work with stakeholders to ensure the facility meets the needs of the young people requiring YPARC care.
It is expected the facility will be operational in 2023.
