Young people across our community are struggling.
Too often, families know they need help long before they can actually access it.
The Village Youth Foundation exists to help close that gap.
We bring community, funding and local support together so young people and their families can access affordable mental health care before a struggle becomes a crisis.
Early help for young minds.
You know your young person needs help.
You've made the calls.
You've spoken to the school.
You've been to the GP.
Maybe you've joined another waitlist.
Maybe you've been told they're not unwell enough for one service, or their needs are too complex for another.
Maybe you've finally found someone who can help, but you simply can't afford months of private therapy.
And all the while, you're watching your young person struggle.
Families shouldn't have to wait until things reach a crisis point before they can get help.
The Village Youth Foundation was created to help change that.
We're building a community-funded model of affordable, local mental health support for young people aged 12–25 and their families across Baw Baw and the Latrobe Valley.
Because when a young person is struggling, they need more than another referral.
They need a Village.
What If Getting Help Was Easier?
You know your young person needs support.
Maybe you've spoken to their school, or been to the GP.
You've made phone calls.
Joined waitlists.
Been told they're not unwell enough for one service, or their needs are too complex for another.
Maybe you've finally found someone who can help, but you simply can't afford months of private therapy.
And all the while, you're watching your young person struggle.
Families shouldn't have to wait until their young person reaches crisis point before support becomes accessible.
That's the gap The Village Youth Foundation is here to help close.
Families shouldn't have to wait until things reach crisis point before they can get help.
The reality for young Australians
98%
Experience
depression or
anxiety symptoms
39%
Have a diagnosed mental health disorder
32%
Deaths in young people are by suicide
50%
Personally impacted by suicide by age 25
Behind these numbers are young people with strengths, ideas, friendships, families, dreams and futures still being written.
Worried about a young person?
Sometimes it's obvious that a young person needs support. Sometimes it's simply a feeling that something isn't right.
You might be noticing:
-
Anxiety or persistent worry
-
Low mood or withdrawal
-
School avoidance or refusal
-
Difficulty with friendships or feeling like they don't belong
-
Low confidence or self-esteem
-
Family or relationship difficulties
-
Emotional overwhelm
-
Changes in behaviour
-
Self-harm or concerning thoughts
-
Alcohol or drug use
-
The effects of trauma or difficult life experiences
-
Or perhaps your young person has even said: “I need someone to talk to.”
You don't need to wait until they're in crisis to take action.
Early support matters.
The need is real. So is our ability to respond.
What We Do
The Village Youth Foundation is a place where young people can feel safe, supported and understood.
A place with time to slow down, people who listen without judgement, and a community that sees them for who they are.
Because every young person deserves to feel like they belong, to know they’re not alone, and that there are people who will walk alongside them when things feel hard.
Counselling Sessions
Up to 12 individual
sessions for young people
aged 12-25.
Safe, community-owned spaces where young people can find connection.
Groups
And Events
Guidance and care
for families as they
navigate the journey.
Family
Support
Our donors who make it possible
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We support the whole village,
not just the young person.
It Takes a Village. This Is Where You Come In.
You don't have to be a mental health professional to change the trajectory of a young person's life.
You can help make sure support is there when they ask for it.
The Village Youth Foundation is powered by community investment.
Local businesses.
Community organisations.
Philanthropic partners.
And people who simply believe that where a young person lives, or what their family can afford, shouldn't determine whether they can access mental health support.
Your contribution helps reduce the cost of counselling for local families and, as funding grows, helps us provide family support, peer connection and the coordination that wraps care around the young person.
This isn't funding an idea somewhere else.
It's supporting young people right here in our community.
Young people who go to our local schools.
Play in our sporting clubs.
Work in our businesses.
And belong to families we know.
When we invest in them, we invest in the future of our whole community.
How your support helps
The cost of care is shared three ways, so no family carries it alone.
Your generosity covers that community funded half, so no young person misses out simply because their family can't cover the full cost.
Young person's family
25%
The heavily subsidised investment toward the session fee from families and young people.
25%
The Village Health
Provided by The Village Health to support every young person who walks through our doors.
50%
TVYF
Covered by donations and sponsorships from people in this community who believe our young people matter.
Your Investment Becomes Support
$20 - $50
Helps cover resources for counselling sessions; things like therapy tools, activities and wellbeing materials that make each session more engaging and effective.
$100
Sponsors the community-funded portion of one counselling session, lifting the weight of financial stress so families aren't left to carry it alone.
$300
Sponsors the community-funded portion of three counselling sessions, giving a young person a safe space to connect with real, timely mental health care.
$600
Sponsors the community-funded portion of 6 counselling sessions for one young person; half of their full program, giving them real momentum toward lasting change.
$1200
Covers the community-funded portion of a young person's full 12-session program; enough time to build trust, grow resilience, and see real change.
Getting Help
Reaching out is the first step, and we're so glad you're here.
Not sure where to begin? That's ok! Just fill out our New Client Form below. Once we've received it, we'll send you a short Eligibility Form to help us understand your situation and connect you with the right support.
Got questions, or just want to chat things through first? That's totally okay too.
Send us a message using the form below, or give us a call or email.
Whatever brings you here today, you're not alone.
Early support changes lives.
We’ve seen what can happen when young people and their families can access the right support at the right time.
44%
Reduction in psychological
distress
35%
improvement in
parent and carer wellbeing
40%
improvement in
family
relationships
For many of those families, affordable support simply wasn’t available elsewhere.
The results show us what’s possible.
Now imagine how many more young people we could reach with our community behind us.
Help us step in earlier.
Help us change the trajectory.
Be part of their village.
Let's Talk
Phone: 03 5625 1778
Email: hello@tvyf.com.au
Warragul Rooms
Level 1, 62 Smith Street, Warragul,
Victoria 3820
Access via stairs.