Canberra Launches Australia's First Youth Trauma Service

Young people who've lived through trauma are helping shape a groundbreaking mental health service that could change how Australia supports struggling teens.

Uniting's Youth Trauma Service opens in Canberra this year as the first of its kind in Australia. It offers free trauma-informed care for teenagers aged 13 to 18, combining mental health treatment, peer support, and family services all under one roof.

The most exciting part? Young people with lived experience of trauma helped design every aspect of the service. "This service is designed by young people, for young people," says Chantal Nagib, Uniting's head of mental health.

Elian Au, a member of the youth reference group that shaped the service, knows firsthand why this approach matters. "The fact that Uniting is using evidence-based trauma therapies and approaches that touch on the core of how trauma affects the brain and personality is the big benefit for young people," they explain.

The service features an open-door policy, meaning teens won't be turned away if they're unsure whether they qualify for help. Multidisciplinary teams include peer workers who have their own mental health journeys, alcohol and drug specialists, and family support staff.

The $4 million service, funded jointly by ACT and federal governments over two years, addresses a critical need. New research from Black Dog Institute tracking 6,000 Australian students found that more than half reported at least one adverse childhood experience by Year 8. One in four young people experienced persistent or worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety throughout high school.

The Ripple Effect

The service is designed to reach young people wherever they are. While based in Lyneham alongside headspace Primary Care and headspace Early Psychosis, the team can connect with teens in community settings like homelessness services or schools.

GPs and service providers can refer teenagers directly, but young people and their families can also self-refer without needing permission from anyone else. This removes barriers that often keep struggling teens from getting help.

The focus on early intervention could prevent mental health challenges from becoming lifelong struggles. By catching trauma's effects during adolescence and treating them with evidence-based therapies, young people get tools to heal before symptoms worsen.

The service is currently recruiting staff and holding additional co-design sessions with youth to ensure it truly meets their needs before opening to the public.

Australia is watching this Canberra initiative closely as a potential model for youth mental health care nationwide.