Jesuit Social Services
Need a Helping Hand?

Types of Help Available

Government Services
1. Your local government youth department may be a good starting point for finding out about other services in your area.
2. The federal government departments with responsibility for youth and family services are the Department of Family and Community Services and the Department of Health and Ageing.
3. Community Health Centres provide a range of health services and are open to everyone living in that area.

Local Government

Most local governments have a youth department. This may be a good starting point for finding out about other services in your area.

They are also direct service providers for some youth support programs. Local government services are likely to include a youth drop-in information centre, counselling for young people and families, and possibly support groups for young people.

Victorian State government

The Victorian State Government provides core health services.

Victorian Government services include include:

  • Intellectual Disability Services
  • Psychiatric Services
  • Drug Treatment Services
  • Dual-Diagnosis Services (drug & mental health)
  • Child Protection Services
  • Juvenile Justice Services


Commonwealth Government

The federal government departments with responsibility for youth and family services are:

  • Department of Family and Community Services
  • Department of Health and Ageing


However, the federal government usually funds programs to be run by other services rather than acting as a direct service provider. Reconnect programs are funded by the federal government, but are provided by a variety of local providers.

Community Health Centres

Community Health Centres (also called Community Health Services) provide a range of health services - for example dentist, podiatrist, physiotherapy, counselling, youth programs, respite care, health promotion. Some have doctors as well.

They service a particular area, and are open to everyone in that area, though eligibility for particular programs varies. Services are usually free or low cost to eligible people.

Last updated: April 2006
Other Types of Help
Schools
Doctors
Youth Services
Family Services
Private Practitioners
Providers
Government Services
Telephone Advice and
Support Groups for Families
Using the Internet to Locate Services
Related Help Sheets
Dealing with Services
Understanding Drug Use
Understanding Mental Health
Understanding Complex Problems
Family Dynamics
Other Useful Links
Department of Human Services
Office of Youth
Reconnect Services
Local Government Directory
Community Health Centres
Department of Health & Ageing Terms of Use Jesuit Social Services an involved website. Site Map Contact Us About back to top help? download pdf