Aftercare is an evidence-based six-month wraparound support program to help young people transition safely back in the community after completing residential treatment programs. This vital program helps break the cycle of drug and alcohol addiction and connects more young people with community, housing, education and employment pathways.
Aftercare
Aftercare helps young people transition safely back to the community after completing residential treatment programs.
What is Aftercare?
“Aftercare can help by guiding young people in the right direction, seeing them out in the community, keeping them on track and letting them know they’re not alone.”
Brad, Aftercare Worker, Mission Australia’s Drug and Alcohol Youth Service (DAYS)
Youth Network: An expansion of Aftercare
Youth Network, an initiative by Sir David Martin Foundation, is an expansion of Aftercare which was driven by high demand and unmet need to help vulnerable young people with drug and alcohol addiction.
Thanks to our generous donors and in partnership with Mission Australia, we expanded Aftercare nationally to four youth Residential Rehabilitation sites in Robertson, Perth, Dubbo and Batemans Bay.
All the young people we supported in the first 12 months of Youth network, which started in January 2023, continue to make real and lasting change.
Results include:
- Doubled the number of young people receiving Aftercare from 80 to 161 across all locations
- Broadened the intake age range from 16-24 to 12-24
- Higher representation of LGBTQI+ and Indigenous young people (now 28%)
An independent evaluator is working across all sites to assess the impact and efficacy of the network over a three-year period.
“Having an Aftercare Worker helps to lift the burden. My Aftercare worker, Todd, is someone I can say anything to. He makes me feel special and accepted, and cared for.”
Bailey, Triple Care Farm graduate
