YAT

YAT is a 24-hour, seven day a week service that comprises three main functions.

Triage / Intake

Triage is the first contact point for people wishing to refer a young person to the Orygen Youth Health Clinical Program. Anyone is welcome to make a referral, including the young person themselves. Triage staff will discuss the young person’s difficulties with the referrer and make an initial assessment about whether the person requires a specialist mental health assessment, the level of risk, and the urgency of the situation. The Triage worker may also contact relevant people (young person, family/significant other) to discuss the issues raised. Depending on the circumstances, they may also contact other services involved with the young person (with consent), for example a school welfare coordinator, general practitioner or protective services. Referrers will be informed of the plan that Triage have for following up each referral.

Although Triage is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, people are requested to make non-urgent referrals during business hours.

Assessment

This multidisciplinary team sees all those accepted for assessment by Triage and determines whether OYH is the most appropriate service to treat the young person.

If after assessment the young person is not accepted into OYH, other referrals will be made to ensure the young person is linked with another support service where required.

If the young person is accepted into OYH-CP, the Assessment Team may initially manage treatment until a Case Manager is allocated.

Crisis Response

This multidisciplinary team undertakes crisis assessments for young people newly referred to the service and unable to wait for a routine appointment. They also provide crisis response to current clients outside business hours.

Community treatment is also offered by this team to current clients who require more intense treatment than can be offered by the Case Manager alone.