Youth services professionals

The following case study is a good practice example of how youth services professionals can help clients who are affected by domestic and family violence.

You work in an integrated youth centre that provides information, legal and other advice along with practical support such as IT access, washing machines and food preparation areas for young people. The centre is alongside a Headspace service. You are part of a youth interagency in the region.

Daniel is referred to your service by his school counsellor. She is concerned about his severe depression and behaviour issues (such as not completing work, ignoring teachers and truancy), but she has had trouble ‘getting him to open up’. She fears he will eventually drop out of school altogether.

On his first visit, Daniel tells you that he doesn’t want to talk to a counsellor but has come because he wants to use the computers. He adds he ‘doesn't mind talking to someone who's not old’. You acknowledge that, but tell him that you have some responsibilities under your state and territory laws to let someone know if he tells you about something that suggests he is at risk of harm and you explain your service policy relating to this, as well as the laws that apply in your jurisdiction. You then show him the computer room.