African Youth Aod Outreach Worker

**African Youth AOD Outreach Clinician**

**Location**:Melbourne

**Classification**:SCHADS

**Reports To**:Project Coordinator & PWRC Clinical Director




**The Project**

The Victorian African Communities Action Plan (VACAP) aims to build welcoming communities, improve outcomes, and create lasting opportunities for Victorians of African heritage. VACAP has funded an AOD Initiative that aims to build capacity in, and better support, African communities.

Led by the African Australian Welfare Bureau (AAWB), together with Odyssey House Victoria (OHV), Positive Mental Health Program (PMHP), and the Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS), the project will deliver AOD outreach and education, with the aim of improving health and wellbeing outcomes for young African people in Victoria, in line with the aims of VACAP. The 12-month Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) education and outreach project objectives are to:
Improve understanding of alcohol and drug related harm among African Australian people.
- Improve pathways to health services, treatment, and rehabilitation.
- Build trust between service providers and African Australian communities.
- Increase service provider understanding of substance use issues in African Australian communities; and
- Contribute to sustainable, long-term improvements to the service providers' cultural competency.

The outreach service comprises three bicultural youth AOD outreach workers, one each based in Dandenong (employed by YSAS), Epping (employed by PMHP) and Melton (employed by OHV) along with a project coordinator based with the AAWB. These positions focus on place-based group engagement, collaboration, relationship-based guidance, and advocacy, along with skills, knowledge and leadership development and a community of support.

The positions also inform develop and deliver an AOD education program which draws on the knowledge and expertise of the partners and African community representatives. The program is co
- designed with these experts. It comprises of education, training, and health promotion resources in a variety of formats and community languages along with a train-the-trainer program for community workers.

**The Organisation**
Positive Mental Health program is private organisation established in 2011. Founded by Francis Acquaah Credentialed Mental Health Nurse. Positive Mental Health Program is an innovative private mental health program with Credentialed Mental Health Nurses and Accredited Mental Health Social Workers who work independently and provide a wide range of mental health services. We work with other mental health professionals and community agencies to facilitate the best possible care and management for patients with mental health issues and chronic mental health needs.

The program is worked under the auspices of Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program. Positive Mental Health Program is known in the local community and has reputation for their services. PMHP advocates for their consumers. They go further to deliver services which primary health care client might not receive in some settings. PMHP work in collaboration with other health professionals and community agencies to facilitate the best care. PMHP manages long term clients (PMHP, 2016).

The Philosophy of Positive Mental Health Program is that individuals living with mental illness and seeking psychological support of care, to have an equitable right to access to care, irrespective of the cultural affiliation and severity of the illness. The key principle of Positive Mental Health Program is that no patient or client will be denied access to Positive Mental Health Program.

**Position Objective**
The African Youth AOD Outreach Clinician provides AOD counselling and case management support for young people 12 to 25 years old (and their careers and families where appropriate) within Epping and surrounding LGA’s. This support aims to:

- reduce AOD-related harms and change harmful behaviours.
- identify and address barriers to recovery.
- increase capacity to effectively manage difficulties associated with problematic AOD use.
- develop skills to prevent relapse.
- increase health and wellbeing, social connectedness, and positive and ongoing behaviour change.

The Youth AOD Outreach Clinician will work independently but will be well connected to the youth and family services team, youth AOD outreach workers in their catchment along with other youth-focused and related services.

**Role Responsibilities**:
Direct Service Activities
- Utilising Assertive Youth Outreach approaches (street/community-based activities) engage with young African persons to form trust and working relationships.
- Where required and appropriate, engage with young African persons in custodial settings in preparation for re-entry to community. Additionally, where appropriate support the connection of young people and their families whilst in custodial settings by means of providing transport and support.
- Provide practical