Youth and family support in Melbourne

Practical support built around what’s actually going on in everyday life

Empower YOUth provides trauma-informed support to young people, families and carers. We work to strengthen relationships, build stability and help young people stay safely connected to family, education and community.

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Melbourne's north-east, inner-north and south-east

  • Registered NDIS provider
  • Registered charity with DGR status
  • Based in Templestowe Lower

Three pathways

What brings you here?

  • I Need Support

    When everyday life feels difficult, the right support can make relationships, routines, emotional regulation, mental health, school engagement and behaviour more manageable.

    We help young people, families and carers find practical ways forward through support at home, in the community and other real-life settings, including respite.

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  • I’m Referring Someone

    Understand how we can help create the right support pathway for the person you’re referring, including service fit, scope, locations, capacity, practitioner matching, documentation, communication and NDIS pricing.

    For case managers, support coordinators, schools, Child Protection, allied health professionals and other referrers.

    Information for Referrers

  • I Want to Support Empower YOUth

    Charitable funding helps create community programmes, open up earlier opportunities for support and make the Empower YOUth L.A.B. possible. See how your support can help young people and families connect, participate and find practical ways forward.

    For donors, businesses, philanthropic organisations, funders, sponsors and community partners.

    Support Empower YOUth

What the right support can help make easier

The goal is a more workable everyday life

What that looks like will be different for every person and family. Support may help create:

  • More manageable family life

    Clearer routines, practical ways to respond when things become difficult and strategies that make sense within the household.

  • Better ways to regulate, communicate and participate

    Support can focus on practical coping, communication, daily life, relationships, community participation or reconnecting with activities that have become difficult.

  • Greater confidence for parents and carers

    Advice becomes more useful when people can practise it in the situations where they actually need it.

  • Stronger understanding between people

    Looking at behaviour in context can help families and support teams understand what may be contributing to difficulty and respond with greater consistency.

  • More opportunity to reconnect

    Where relevant to the person’s goals, support can work towards greater participation in school, family or community life.

  • Clearer support around the person

    With consent and within the agreed scope, we can work alongside families, carers, schools, case managers, support coordinators and allied health professionals.

Explore Support & Programmes

Support should not have to begin at breaking point

When young people and families can access support earlier, they have more opportunity to build connection, confidence and stability before challenges become more difficult.

Empower YOUth creates practical opportunities for connection through community programmes, parent sessions and places to connect. Our service work then builds on that foundation by understanding what is happening now, identifying what may help and making the next step as clear as possible.

Community & Early Support

Different programmes for different kinds of support

You do not need to know which one fits before you contact us.

  • H.O.M.E.

    Families Parents Carers

    In-home family support — help make home life more manageable, in the place where routines, relationships and difficult moments actually happen.

  • R.I.S.E.

    Children Young people Adults

    Mental health and psychosocial support to build practical ways to cope, participate and manage everyday life.

  • W.I.L.D.

    Individuals Families Groups

    Outdoor and community-based therapeutic support to build connection, confidence and practical skills through shared experience.

  • R.E.S.T.

    Participants Families

    Goal-based respite to give families breathing room with the participant’s goals still in view.

  • P.A.T.H.

    Parents Kinship and foster carers

    Parent and caregiver support to help make difficult moments more understandable and more manageable.

  • UpB.E.A.T

    Students aged 6–16

    School regulation, re-engagement and structured school-day support for students aged 6–16 whose connection with school is becoming difficult.

Why Empower YOUth

Practical support that goes beyond the therapy room

We work with young people and families in the places where challenges actually happen, so support can be practical, relevant and easier to use in everyday life.

  • Support happens where life happens

    We can work at home, at school, in the community and outdoors, depending on the service. This gives us a clearer picture of what is happening and allows strategies to be practised in the situations where they are actually needed.

  • We focus on what will work day to day

    Our work is not limited to talking about what should change. We help young people, families and carers develop practical ways to manage routines, relationships, regulation, behaviour, participation and difficult moments.

  • We work with the people around the young person

    Lasting change rarely depends on one person alone. With consent and within the agreed scope, we can work alongside parents, carers, schools, case managers, support coordinators and allied health professionals to create greater understanding and consistency around the young person.

  • We stay involved if things become difficult

    Support is often most important when circumstances change or pressure increases. We keep communicating, review what is happening and work with the person and their support network to identify practical next steps within our role.

Our Approach

Upcoming events

See current Empower YOUth events in one place. Where registration is required, continue to Eventbrite. Some L.A.B events may link to the L.A.B website for full programme information.

  • WILD School Holiday Program

    10am – 2pm

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  • Empower YOUth Sausage Sizzle @Ruffey

    All day

    Ruffey Lake Park, 99 Victoria St, Doncaster East

    11am - 3pm. Markquee and promotion of Empower YOUth everyone will be rostered, especially on their days to attend, cook and speak with the…

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  • Haircut Marathon

    8am – 8pm

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See What’s On

Trust

Professional support with a community base

  • Registered NDIS provider
  • Registered charity and DGR-endorsed organisation
  • Behaviour Support and Therapeutic Supports among current NDIS registration groups
  • Physical community base in Templestowe Lower
  • 2026 Manningham Community Awards, Community Excellence finalist

About Empower YOUth

Supporting people across a broad part of Melbourne

Empower YOUth primarily works across Melbourne’s north-east, inner north and south-east — including Manningham, Banyule, Boroondara, Whitehorse, Nillumbik, Maroondah, Darebin, Yarra, Merri-bek, Moonee Valley, Monash, Glen Eira, Kingston and Knox.

Support may also be possible further afield, including parts of Frankston and Dandenong, depending on the service, travel requirements and current capacity. If your suburb is not listed, ask us before completing a full intake.

Check Your Area

Start with what is happening now

You do not need to know which programme fits. Tell us who needs support, what has become difficult and what you would like help with.

Main service enquiries: 0422 186 412 · enquiries@empoweryouthoohc.com. Empower YOUth is not an emergency service — if someone is in immediate danger, call 000.

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