Individual Support Program

Tailored support for young people with complex needs.

What is the program?

The Individual Support Program provides individually tailored and flexible support services to young people who have multiple and complex needs.

These needs could include mental health issues, substance misuse, homelessness, disability, history of trauma, or involvement with the youth justice or out-of-home care systems.

Individual funding packages are provided by the Victorian Government’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

How does the program help?

The Individual Support Program aims to:

support the development of healthy relationships with family and community for young people with multiple and complex needs
increase the civic participation and social connectedness of young people with multiple and complex needs
improve the lives of young people involved in or exiting the out-of-home care system
maximise the independence and community participation of young people with a disability
reduce the number of young people becoming homeless and/or involved in the justice system.

How does the program work?

We provide support through an individually tailored combination of:

intensive one-to-one support
outreach to meet young people where they feel most comfortable
after-hours support
therapeutic interventions
housing support
recreational activities
links to other services such as education, training and employment services.

The level of support provided depends on the needs of the young person and their individual support package.

Who can participate in the program?

The Individual Support Program supports young people who:

have multiple complex needs such as mental health issues, substance misuse, histories of trauma, homelessness or a disability
may be involved in out-of-home care and/or
may have contact with the justice system
are seeking information about or referrals to community support services.

Make a referral

Referrals to the Individual Support Program are made by the Victorian Government’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. Re-access for previous participants may be possible depending on the young person’s age and funding eligibility.

For enquiries about the program, please contact the Individual Support Program team at our Sunshine office. Email sunshine.reception@jss.org.au or call (03) 8595 2438.