Delivering more mental health support for young Victorians

Construction has begun on the $11.9 million North West Metropolitan Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) centre in Melbourne’s north west.

Building contractor, Building Engineering has been appointed to deliver the 20-bed prevention and recovery care centre, which will provide treatment and support for 200 young people aged 16-25 each year.

The centre will help young people who are unwell, or who are in the early stages of recovery from an acute mental illness by providing early intervention support and clinical treatment with a focus on getting better.

To be operated by Melbourne Health, the new centre will:

• increase access to safe, flexible and responsive community-based treatment for young people
• help fill the service gap between community and hospital-based care
• provide short and medium term treatment in a residential setting.

The YPARC centre will be located in the Parkville precinct alongside the Orygen Youth Mental Health facility, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, and near Melbourne Health, ensuring young people can access a range of mental health treatment and support services.

The facility will provide community-based treatment in a home-like environment and includes:

• 20 private bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms
• communal kitchen, dining and living areas
• breakout spaces
• outdoor garden areas for recreational activities and family visits.

The new facility is one of 25 Prevention and Recovery Care centres across Melbourne and regional Victoria, providing community-based treatment for people who are unwell or recovering from mental illness.

The program is part of the Victorian Government’s $325.7 million commitment to mental health outlined in the 10-year Mental Health Plan.

With construction commencing in November 2020, the new YPARC centre is due to be completed in late 2021.

Learn more about the North West Metropolitan Youth Prevention and Recovery Care facility via our dedicated project page.