WSLHD Youth Health Annual Report

Thriving Families

Thriving Families NSW provides targeted support to meet the needs of vulnerable young parents aged 25years and under and their children (0-5years). The project aims to enhance the wellbeing of vulnerable young families and decrease the likelihood of them reaching crisis point by ensuring young parents have access to age-appropriate, strength-based, wraparound services that meet the needs of the family. The approach includes pregnancy and post-pregnancy support meetings, outreach services provided by a multidisciplinary health team, and a dedicated care coordinator to help the family navigate the service system and build a network of supports to empower vulnerable young families and help them thrive. Prior to COVID-19 restrictions, there was the opportunity in 2021 for a parenting group to run at Riverstone Community Centre which allowed clients to seek expertise support from the Thriving Families NSW Child and Family Health Nursing and Thriving Families NSWMidwife. With the re-introduction of COVID-19 restrictions, the parenting group transitioned to an online group. Many families within Thriving Families NSW had lost their source of income or were unable to continue seeking work due to COVID-19 restrictions. Food hampers and basic need hampers were provided to clients to support them through this time.

The Middle Years Project

Youth Health, WSLHD provides Speech Pathology services to young people aged 12-24 years who are connected to the WSLHD catchment area. Services are also provided to the Middle Years Project, to students in Years 5-8 at Willmot Public School, Noumea Public School and Chifley College Shalvey Campus. The Middle Years Project recognises the “middle years” are a critical period for students as they experience physical, cognitive, social, and emotional challenges. The Middle Years Project is a partnership between NSW Department of Education, NSW Department of Communities and Justice, WSLHD, NSW Police and WentWest. The primary target group for service provision is young people who are marginalised, disadvantaged or at risk, with a particular focus on young people who are at risk of disengaging from the education system and those who have difficulty engaging and participating in their communities due to communication difficulties. Due to maternity leave, this position was vacant for most of 2021. Although several attempts to fill this position were made, this proved unsuccessful. The Speech Pathologist returned in November 2021 and was able to reconnect with schools and develop plans in conjunction with the program partners for 2022. Given the impacts of COVID-19 throughout 2021 on school attendance and operation, many identified students of the program will require additional increased interventions to support their progress.

Thriving Families in WSLHD had a total of

active clients in 2021, with

of these being new referrals.

In 2021, 43% of services were provided via telehealth (phone or audio-visual) to navigate the requirements of COVID-19. The team completed 29 Family Plan Meetings and 39 Family Plan Reviews during 2021. Thriving Families NSW evaluation was completed in partnership with UNSW in 2021, with recommendations for 2022 and beyond. This includes recruitment to a Clinical Nurse Specialist Role and a Youth Health Worker-Mental Health role to provide specialist mental health and child and family health literacy, support and education to clients and staff. Further, offering of need-based groupwork such as ‘Circle of Security’ and ‘Tuning into Kids’ will be provided to appropriate families.