Partnering to reduce alcohol and risk-related trauma in Melbourne’s west

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Plenary Health has partnered with leading youth non-profit The Youth Junction Inc. to help more young people understand risks, choices and consequences associated with unsafe and risky behaviour. 

The five-year partnership aligns with Plenary Heath’s delivery of the $1.5 billion New Footscray Hospital Project and will enable Youth Junction to reach an additional 60 young people per year through its Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma (PARTY) education program. 

The Youth Junction works with vulnerable young peoples across northwest Melbourne to support choices in education and employment, and the reduction of disadvantage.

The PARTY program aims to help 18-to-25-year-old understand risks, choices and consequences associated with unsafe driving, drinking and other risky behaviour. 

Program participants hear from victim survivors and see first-hand the impact of trauma on young people from trauma and emergency services specialists. 

The intervention program remains one of the only programs of its kind in Australia, run in collaboration with health specialists, local courts, and Victoria Police. 

Speaking at the launch of the PARTY’s first program for 2022, Youth Junction CEO Jo Malcolm-Black said the real-life prevention and awareness program helps young people make safer, more informed choices. 

“Young people are at more risk of becoming a victim of trauma than any other age group and the PARTY program educates to prevent accidents before they happen,” Ms Malcolm-Black said.

“We are grateful for Plenary Health’s support to run this program, which has proven success with prevention and helping young offenders.” 

More than 1,000 young people have participated in the program since 2010, achieving a nine per cent recidivism rate after attending the program. 

Plenary Health New Footscray Hospital Project Chair Kelvyn Lavelle said Plenary was pleased to support a program that makes such a positive contribution to the community and young lives. 

“The new Footscray Hospital will deliver better health outcomes for the west, and our involvement in delivering this significant project means we are in the fortunate position to be able to support existing organisations doing fantastic work in the community,” Mr Lavelle said. 

“It is an honour to be able to support Youth Junction’s important work and ensure more young people get access to more services.” 

The new Footscray Hospital on the corner of Ballarat and Geelong Roads, is set to open in 2025 and is being delivered by the Plenary Health consortium, in partnership with the Victorian Health Building Authority and Western Health.