Member News | Edition 11

Member Spotlight | Geoff Bayldon, YSAS

Geoff Bayldon is the Manager of South East AOD Out of Home Care Services for YSAS. He leads a team of 4 AOD practitioners who are focused on supporting young people in out-of-home care across the region. 

Geoff’s team supports children who present with a high degree of complexity and risk around their drug use, and whose care teams could also benefit from AOD-related support. Collaborative work in this space aims to manage risks and support the development of future orientation, insight, hope and optimism.

“Young people in out of home care are often managing the impacts of trauma and abuse by using substances. When an AOD worker turns up, we're just another face of institutions that have promised things and not delivered.  We seek to understand why young people are using substances. We're not there to take things away. We have to demonstrate that we can be trustworthy and reliable, so that they can have faith in what we represent.” 

AOD Out of Home Care Services have been funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing since 2001, and were initially a response to a spate of chroming incidents in out-of-home care. Today, there are approximately 10 specialist roles across Victoria that work at the intersection of youth AOD and the out-of-home care system. 

“Resi can be a wild place. The other day a young person kicked off and destroyed the kitchen after an altercation with their resi worker. That's what abuse, neglect, and trauma can look like when playing out in adolescence. We need to avoid practice that increases disconnection; that pushes young people out of their resi homes and into dodgy, sketchy places with dodgy, sketchy people. That’s the bind of working with substance use in environments that can be highly stressful and where guidelines promote a zero tolerance approach to drug use."

Geoff has worked in Youth AOD since the early 2000s, starting in the YSAS Day Program in Fitzroy, before moving into detox, residential services and youth outreach. He has worked with young people in out-of-home care for the last two decades, including in policy and practice leadership roles.

For Geoff, young people in this space are interesting, amazing and capable.

“You are constantly required to bring your A game. You can't get complacent. You’ve got to be curious, always thinking, and asking, what's the right fit for this young person?

These young people have had a really horrible go of it. Meeting young people in pre-contemplation, in ambivalence and disinterest, and being able to work meaningfully with them to find motivation and to pull that thread until we get somewhere, that needs to be discussed and practiced more. 

When young people get to a point where they're like, I deserve good things, I'm a worthy, awesome human being and I should have good things and I'm going to make good things happen, that's where it feels like we've done something meaningful.”

Member Update | BHN and Uniting

The Age Article: The Chapel Street sanctuary providing so much to those with so little

A recent article in The Age examined the growing concentration of homelessness, mental health and substance use issues along Chapel Street, highlighting the challenges faced by some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable residents.

The article profiles the vital role played by community organisations, including our member organisations, Uniting Vic.Tas and Better Health Network, which provide safe spaces, healthcare, outreach and social support.

While these services offer critical assistance and connection, the article underscores the ongoing need for greater investment in housing, mental health and community-based support services.

Member Update | First Step

Following the First Step Futures Forum in February, a new Briefing Paper has been released capturing the key insights and priorities identified by more than 200 participants from the alcohol and other drugs, mental health, Aboriginal health, justice and lived experience sectors.

The Forum explored a central question: What do we want our sectors to look like in 25 years? Participants highlighted the need for integrated care, lived and living experience leadership, cultural safety, harm reduction as healthcare, funding based on need rather than stigma, and stronger support for community-led and Aboriginal-led models.

The Briefing Paper will inform ongoing advocacy with government, media and sector stakeholders. VAADA was proud to partner with First Step in supporting this important conversation.

Member Update | Nas Recovery Centre

Nas Recovery Centre are a vital link in bridging the gap between mainstream services and the African community. Their drop-in centre is where families heal together, and where young people have found hope for a better future since 2023.

This work is only possible because they have a space in Cranbourne West where people feel safe to seek help. But now, Nas is at risk of losing it. They are calling on community, friends, and supporters to help them secure this space for the next two years.

They need to raise funds to cover venue rental, utilities, and essential equipment for the next two years. Without this funding, they will lose the foundation of their work. future.

Donate today. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. 
As a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), all donations over $2 are tax-deductible.

Member Update | Naloxone Machine Rollout

Free naloxone machines rolling out across Victoria as part of a Statewide Action Plan to reduce drug harms and expand care

VAADA Members Bayside Health, Western Health, Bendigo Community Health Services,  Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, Primary Care Connect, Your Community Health, Latrobe Community Health Service and Ballarat Community Health are happy to have been selected as part of 10 Victorian sites to participate in a trial of 24/7 naloxone vending machines.

Deputy Operations Manager, Lisa Walklate from Bendigo Community Health Services says, "Inclusion in the trial isn't an indication that anything is wrong in Bendigo, rather it's an opportunity to provide stigma free access to a life-saving medication." 

"Having the ability to discreetly access Naloxone through a vending machine will empower anyone in the community to have this overdose reversal tool easily in their possession."

The naloxone dispensing machine trial will help expand access to this life-saving medication, meaning more fatal overdoses will be prevented. 

Member Update | cohealth

cohealth has welcomed the release of an independent review into its GP services, which recommends significant reforms to the funding and delivery of multidisciplinary primary healthcare.

The review found that cohealth provides high-quality care to highly disadvantaged communities in Collingwood, Fitzroy and Kensington, but that current Medicare funding arrangements are not designed to support multidisciplinary models of care for people with complex needs.

cohealth has accepted all recommendations and will work with the Commonwealth and Victorian governments to implement reforms, including piloting a new model of care and funding. The changes could help inform future Medicare policy and improve the sustainability of healthcare services for vulnerable communities.

Member Update | FDS and HRVic

Remembrance Day 2026 - Wednesday 22 July  

Family Drug Support will be holding a remembrance ceremony at Harm Reduction Victoria to honour and remember people whose lives have been lost directly or indirectly to drugs or alcohol.

If you have lost someone, or know someone who has, and would like their name read out during the ceremony, they would be honoured to include them. A candle will also be lit in their memory.

Date: Wednesday 22 July
Time: 3pm - 5pm
Location: Harm Reduction Victoria, 299 Victoria St, Brunswick VIC

Please contact Cadence if you would like to include a loved one’s name.

Member Update | Ballarat Community Health

Ballarat Community Health has launched VapeCheck, a free, quick and judgment-free online quiz designed to help people check in on their relationship with vaping and gain a clearer picture of dependence and what that could mean for health and wellbeing.

No sign-up is required, and there are no wrong answers; just an honest starting point for anyone who wants to understand where they’re at and what their next steps might look like.

You can find the VapeCheck Quiz on the BCH website, linked below.

Member Update | Turning Point

New research from Turning Point and Monash University has provided the first Australian insight into peer support workers’ attitudes towards psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT). Published in Brain and Behaviour, the study found strong acceptance of PAT among peer workers with lived experience, particularly among those with prior experience of psychedelics and greater knowledge of the treatment.

The research also highlighted significant interest in training opportunities, with 94% of participants willing to undertake PAT-specific education and 85% reporting that increased knowledge would improve their readiness to recommend PAT.

Participants identified several challenges, including stigma, role ambiguity and treatment costs. The findings highlight the potential role of peer workers in supporting PAT implementation, particularly through post-treatment integration support.

Member Update | Each

Each have announced two new appointments to the Each Board of Directors Candice Charles and Leanne Beagley PhD.

Candice brings extensive experience as a Board Director and Chair, with a strong background in governance, strategy and executive leadership across community, health and financial services.

Leanne has more than 25 years of experience across board and executive roles, including Chair and Chief Executive positions, with deep expertise in primary care, mental health and service delivery.

Welcome to Candice and Leanne.

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