Presenter: Mark O’Brien & Mike Creati
Synopsis:The 7000 Victorian young people identified in the 2006 census didn’t choose homelessness, and anecdotally we know that health, education and employment are necessary in aiding them out of homelessness.Approximately 2 out of 5 young people that YPHS sees have a pre-existing RCH Ur No, which means there is a role for RCH to play in impacting on a young person’s outcomes
The Young People’s Health Service (YPHS) is a program of the Royal Children’s Hospital, Centre for Adolescent Health.It is the only primary health care service that specifically works with young people who are experiencing homelessness and/or marginalisation. Funding for the Service comes predominantly through the Department of Health, Victoria.YPHS was established in 1991 following recommendations made from the, ‘Our Homeless Children’ Report of the National Inquiry into Homeless Children by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 1989 (otherwise known as the Burdekin Report).The presentation will focus on High Risk Youth (those young people that are a risk to themselves) and the role that we can play in diminishing these health risks, using a social determinants of health framework.
Speakers:
Mark O’Brien has worked as Nurse/Midwife in a number of places including Cairns, Longreach, Alice Springs, Yuendumu, Utopia, Tjuntjuntjara, Mudgee and Melbourne.Currently he is the Manager of the Young People’s Health Service, the only primary health care service that specifically works with adolescents who are experiencing homelessness and/or marginalization.He has completed a Bachelor of Nursing, Graduate Certificates in Paediatric Nursing and Addiction Studies, a Graduate Diploma in Midwifery, a Masters of Health Studies (Primary Health Care and Community Health) and is half way through an MBA.
Mick Creati is a paediatrician. He has worked with the Centre for Adolescent for 12 years, responsible for inpatient ward management as well as outpatient care of young people.
Since December 2011, Mick has been employed as the Head of Medical Services, Adolescent Forensic Health Service (AFHS), a service which provides health care to up to one hundred 12 to20 year olds in custody within the Youth Justice precinct in Parkville (up behind the zoo).Mick was also the principle technical advisor for the WHO Adolescent Job Aid, a practical guide the management of common health conditions in young people, and has also directed projects in Indonesia to support local organisations to provide health services to young people and HIV positive people.
Grand Round presented on 25 July 2012