The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) was established in 1973 to address the specific medical needs of Victorian indigenous communities. The organisation has expanded steadily over past 40 years to provide a comprehensive range of medical, dental and social services for our community.
As well as providing a variety of medical services, VAHS is committed to supporting the well-being of the community through contributions to community events and activities. VAHS is also committed to assisting research into the ongoing needs of the community.
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Services Offered
The VAHS Family Counselling Service provides culturally safe social emotional wellbeing and mental health counselling, cultural healing and recovery programs, care coordination and outreach support.
The Family Counselling Service is located at the VAHS Preston site and provides services across four main program areas – Adult Social Emotional Wellbeing, Koori Kids, Financial Wellbeing and the Ice Pilot Program.
The Adult Social Emotional Wellbeing team is a multi-disciplinary team which provides support to Aboriginal people with mental health and social emotional wellbeing needs.
Services provided include: -Access to counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists -Drug and Alcohol Counselling -Detox support and access to treatment -Outreach Support including the Wadamba Wilam program -Specialist counselling services including sexual assault counsellor (CASA) -Access to a GP, psychiatrists, mental health nurse, sexual health and BBV nurse
The Koori Kids team provides holistic and culturally appropriate mental health services for Aboriginal children, adolescents and their families. The Koori Kids team sees children and families for a range of issues including school issues, behavioural problems, depression and anxiety, stress and trauma and any other issues families are concerned about.
Clinical and therapeutic services provided by Koori Kids include: -Cognitive, language, developmental and behavioural assessments -Family Therapy, speech therapy , play therapy and access to psychiatric treatment -Advocacy for clients to other agencies or services to support social emotional wellbeing including schools and parenting programs -Access to a pediatrician specializing in adolescent health -Speech Pathology -Youth Justice Support
We also have a Men’s Unit that provides help with: -Advice -Advocacy -Health Checks -Health Plans -Case Work -Counselling -Fathering -Relationships -Anger Management -Family Violence Groups -Men’s Camps
Fees and Payment
All services are free of charge.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
Online Counseling: Yes
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.