A unique initiative by the Huon Valley Youth Outreach Program has seen the transformation of what was once a mobile dental van, now converted to the Huon Valley Outreach Van. The area of Huon Valley in southern Tasmania, is 5,620 square kilometres and has 32 localities within its boundaries. As part of Council’s Outreach Program, the Youth Outreach Van will provide young people and others in rural areas access to services and resources, such as support, leisure equipment, and computer access, just to name a few.
“The mobile caravan will be particularly useful for young people seeking support or information away from adult centres,” said Huon Valley Council’s Youth Development Officer, Prue DeVries. “Youth workers will be able to engage with young people and their families in their own communities. Young people will now have greater opportunity to access information, resources, advocacy, support and referrals from Council’s youth workers.”
The Van was donated to the Huon Valley Council in April 2001 by the Tasmanian Minister for Health and Human Services.
“It provides the opportunity for young people, parent/guardians, teachers and the broader community to access a variety of resources, including a health and wellbeing library, recreational and leisure equipment, and access to computers and the internet. It’s also an opportunity for ongoing consultation with young people to determine their health and wellbeing needs,” said Prue DeVries.
The Huon Valley Youth Outreach Van makes regular visits to five major areas, local schools and is currently trialling visits to town centres on weekend evenings.
For further information, contact Prue DeVries on (03) 6264 8404.
