Overview
The Young People’s Health Service (YPHS) is a free drop-in health service for people aged 12-24 years who are experiencing homelessness, financialÌýdifficulties,Ìýor marginalisation.ÌýÌý
What is a visit to YPHS like?Ìý
At YPHS, you will be seen by nurse practitioners, nurses,Ìýor doctorsÌýin a clinic room. They will explain the visit and work through a registration form with you.Ìý
A first visit to YPHS often includes an assessment to understand your health needs and what health actions might be helpful. This can take up to 60 minutes.ÌýYou do not have to answer questions that you are not comfortable with.Ìý
If you prefer to communicate in a language other than English, we can call an interpreter during the consult.Ìý
What do YPHS Offer
YPHS provides primary health care, including:Ìý
YPHS is not a GP clinicÌýor an emergency service. WeÌýare not able toÌýcompleteÌýMental Health Care Plans, Centrelink Paperwork, NDIS assessments, orÌýprocedures requiring intravenous therapy i.e.Ìýiron infusions. We can help you find the service you need for these.ÌýWeÌýare limited to seeing clients up till their 25thÌýbirthday.ÌýPeople aged 25 years and overÌýwill be directed to otherÌýappropriate services.Ìý
How can you access YPHS?
YPHS isÌýlocatedÌýatÌýFrontyardÌýYouth ServicesÌý(19 King Street, Melbourne/Narrm)Ìýclinic hours: 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday (closed public holidays)Ìý
Drop-in toÌýFrontyardÌýandÌýask the staffÌýat the front desk about seeing the health team.ÌýBecause YPHS is a drop-in service, there may be a waitÌýto be seen.Ìý
If youÌýcan’tÌýmake itÌýintoÌýthe clinic, we can have a chat over the phone. Ìý
Clinicians
Our team includes three nurseÌýpractitioners,ÌýaÌýclinicalÌýnurse consultant, one administrative officer andÌýdoctors-in-trainingÌýfrom the Adolescent Medicine department at Royal Children’s Hospital. Ìý
Our teamÌýare experienced in providing community-based health care for young peopleÌýand aim to make an environment where you can talk to us about any health matters.Ìý
- Dot Henning: Nurse PractitionerÌý
- Charlie Bowes:ÌýNurse Practitioner
- Belinda Tominc: Nurse PractitionerÌý
- Jane Carroll: Clinical Nurse Consultant
- Di Zoch:Ìý Administration OfficerÌý
Contact Us
Telephone:Ìý9453 8590 (you might have to leave a message)
Mobile 0438 155 526 - SMS or call Ìý ÌýÌý
·¡³¾²¹¾±±ô:Ìýyoung.people@rch.org.auÌý
Address:ÌýFrontyardÌýYouth Services,Ìý19 King Street Melbourne/NaarmÌý
Clinical Outreach Visits
YPHSÌývisits someÌýyouth refuges in the Melbourne areaÌýto increase access to health care.ÌýIf you are staying within youth refuges, you can speak to workersÌýabout whether YPHS visits.ÌýÌý
Translated materials introducing YPHS
Health Resources
Below are someÌýuseful health resourcesÌýand links to other services toÌýaidÌýyou to support your health:Ìý
YPHS Sleep
Resource.docx
YPHS
Immunisation Patient Sheet.docx
RCH teen healthÌýinfoÌý/teeninfo/Ìý
RCHÌýkidsÌýhealth infoÌý/kidsinfo/Ìý
HeadspaceÌýAustraliaÌýÌý
Melbourne Sexual Health CentreÌý(all ages)ÌýÌý
Sexual Health VictoriaÌýÌý
YoDAAÌýÌý
CohealthÌýhomelessness allied health serviceÌýÌý
VirtualYÌýÌý
MCMÌýFrontyardÌýwebsiteÌýÌý
Urgent Care CentresÌýÌý
Medicare Mental Health HubsÌýÌý
Pregnancy Birth and Baby HotlineÌýÌý
Nurse-on-CallÌýÌý
Ìý
YPHS Background and Publications
The Young People's Health Service (YPHS)Ìýaims to advance the health ofÌýadolescents and young adults (12-24 years) who are experiencing, or at risk of homelessness or marginalisation.  Ìý
YPHS wasÌýestablishedÌýin 1991 following recommendations in the "Our Homeless Children" Report of the National Inquiry into Homeless Children by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner Brian BurdekinÌý(1989).  The social model of health acts as the foundation of YPHS practice and acknowledges socialÌýdeterminants of health
Program Logic
Primary health care is designed to be the first level of contact that individuals have with the health care system inÌýAustralia. It incorporates health promotion,Ìýillness prevention and community development.
A Young People’s Health Service program logic model was developed to articulate the various components of the service and the intended outcomes.
Completed YPHS Projects
2024Ìý– 2026 Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Grant Ìý
2019 – 2023ÌýCatch-up vaccination program for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessnessÌý–ÌýFunded through the Victorian Government Department of Health.ÌýThrough an outreach nurse model, YPHSÌýchecked the vaccine histories for 1,429 young people, finding that only 13.5% (194 people) were up to date with routine vaccines. WeÌýinitiatedÌývaccine catch-up for 1,075 young people and completed catch-up plans for 577, improving vaccineÌýcoverageÌýfrom 13.5% toÌý54%.Ìý
Research and Professional Knowledge Sharing Activities
2026
Blasic, D.,ÌýTominc, B.,ÌýBogatyreva, K., and Munro, C. (2026) Periods of hardship: A global review of menstrual challenges among young women experiencing homelessness (pending publication)Ìý
2023
- Henning, D.,ÌýBowes, C., &ÌýTominc, B. (2023). Health and Homelessness: Celebrating the Positives of an Integrated Service Model.ÌýParity (10326170),Ìý36(2), 35–36.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZYTwb8Lzcc
- TomincÌýBL, Francis KL, Sawyer SM,ÌýHeerdeÌýJA, O’Neill J, Henning D.ÌýImmunisationÌýCoverage in Young People Experiencing HomelessnessÌýand the Impact of a Nurse-led Program.ÌýJournal of Primary Care & Community Health. 2023;14.
2022
- Tominc, B., & Nicholson, L. (2022). Housing and health: Easing disruption with collaboration. Parity, 35(2), 32–33.ÌýÌý
2021
- Henning D, Parrott C, Read T, Bradshaw CS.International Journal of STD and AIDS - Homelessness, sex and a tale of two sexually transmitted infections
2020
- Parrott, C. (2020) Young People's Health at the Frontline.ÌýParity, 33(02), 25-26
- Tominc, B. (2020) Immunisations and Preventative Healthcare: Let's Improve Access for Our Community.ÌýParity, 33(02), 25-26
2015
- ParrottÌýC, Henning D &ÌýEadeÌýD. (2015) A Check Up. In: Under the Pump!ÌýMelb: John Cain FoundationÌý
2014
- Henning D.Ìý(2014) Homeless Youth. In: Sexual Health – A Multidisciplinary Approach. Melb: IP Communications
- Henning D,ÌýEade D, Langstone A, Bean-Hodges A, Marceglia A,ÌýAzzopardi P.ÌýAsymptomatic Mycoplasma genitalium infection amongst marginalised young people accessing a youth health service in Melbourne.ÌýInternational Journal of STD & AIDS.Ìý2014;25(4):299-302.Ìý
2013
2012
- Lim, M. S., Goller, J. L., Guy, R., Gold, J., Stoove, M., Hocking, J. S., Fairley, C. K.,ÌýHenning, D., McNamee, K., Owen, L., Sheehan, P., & Hellard, M. E. (2012). Correlates of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a primary care sentinel surveillance network.ÌýSexual Health,Ìý9(3), 247–253.
2008
- Eade, D. (2008). The Young People’s Health Service (YPHS): A Youth Friendly Service Model That Aims to Meet the Health Needs ofÌýat RiskÌýYoung People. Parity, 21(6), 40–41. Ìý
2007
2006
- Chiswell, M.,ÌýEade, D., Fry, T., &ÌýHenning, D. (2006). Innovative ways to provide targeted health care to a young client group.ÌýParity,Ìý19(8), 43–44.
Awards & Scholarships
Australian Association for Adolescent Health - Outstanding Contribution to Youth Health 2019 - Stuart Cook
RCH Mary Patten Award 2019 -ÌýDot HenningÌý
RCH Elizabeth Fearon Scholarship 2021 - Belinda Tominc
Providing Feedback
Feedback helps us improve our practice. Please use the link below to provide any feedback or email us at young.people@rch.org.au.Ìý
Feedback link (RCH process)Ìý/feedback/Ìý