CQ Youth Connect - CQHHS

Our values are: CARE, CONNECT, EMPOWER, PROTECT and RESPECT

Our unique service advocates for youth to stay informed, get/stay connected, stay safe and healthy. We advocate and empower making informed healthy choices, promoting physical, spiritual, social and emotional well-being, for youth aged 14-25 years across Central Queensland - especially young people who are at high risk or disengaged.

CQ Youth Connect is Committed to:

• Increasing access in Health and Education Services for disadvantaged youth across Central Queensland;
• Preventing and reducing health gaps e.g. teenage pregnancy, immunisation, STIs, smoking, dental, mental health, FASD etc.
• Embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services.

CQ Youth Connect welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Our unique locally designed program was established in 2014. Our Model of Care is delivered by a small team that provides culturally appropriate holistic Youth Health Care Services across CQ, with a collective, collaborative place-based approach from Bush, City and Reef.

CQ Youth Five Key areas:

Direct and Indirect Clinical Service: such as access to Dental Service, 715 Health Check, immunisation, Alcohol and Smoking, Mental Health Service, Sexual and Reproductive Health Service, pregnancy testing, screening for common STIs, support treatment, contact tracing, follow-up care, developing and providing pathways to Health Care. CQ Youth Connect has also established out-reach and spot clinics in required locations.

We assist/navigate youth in accessing Health Services, early identification of health concerns, promoting culturally appropriate, holistic health and well-being at all levels, furthermore preventing and reducing risk through providing harm minimization strategies.

Resource development: CQ Service directory, Quit Smoking or Alcohol Kits and resources, Stress Less Kits, Local Condom Kits, Condom Vending Machines, Contraceptive Kits, STI Games, Education Packs and Programs, Flyers, Social media, Personal Hygiene Kits culturally appropriate props, collated evidence-based data and literature repository.

Partnership and Engagement: Establish and foster partnerships across all levels with Community Stakeholders and Community Service Government Organisations and Non-Government Organisations across Central Queensland, working collaboratively with a collective place-based approach to reduce Youth Health Gaps.

Youth advocacy: Advocate, empower and provide pathways and opportunities for Youth development, giving them a voice and strength to identify and establish Youth projects/programs, supporting Youth Health and Education across all levels for Indigenous, disengaged and at-risk Youth.

Health Education & Workforce Development: Empower and provide opportunity for Youth to develop skills and access health, education and employment. CQ Youth Connect created new pathways to support Indigenous Workforce development e.g. CQ Youth Connect Indigenous Youth Engagement Officers, and Indigenous Youth Engagement Officers School based Traineeship.

Provide Youth with culturally appropriate, holistic, interactive health education program/sessions, that are uniquely tailored/developed and delivered according to local youth needs, requested or identified by Youth or Youth Service providers. Providing youth with experiences and evidenced-base knowledge to develop life skills and the ability to make informed healthy choices. Empowering Youth furthermore, ensuring youth have better access to evidenced-based information/knowledge and Health Service choices, direct or indirect.

Delivering professional development for Youth Service Provider Staff, internal or external; through the establishment if annual Youth Interagency Health forums, workshops, information sessions and awareness relating to health gaps, health knowledge needs e.g. Teenage Pregnancy, Immunisation, Sexual Health, Mental Health, Smoking, Alcohol etc.

CQ Youth Connect Service is based in Rockhampton, regularly traveling to rural and remote locations e.g. Emerald, Blackwater, Springsure, Woorabinda, Baralaba, Banana/Biloela, Mount Morgan, Gladstone and Yeppoon.

Contact:

CQ Youth Connect mobile 0417 061 004 or email: [email protected]

Program Developer mobile 0408 708 200 or email: [email protected]