- Published:
- Thursday 23 October 2025 at 10:30 am
The Allan Labor Government is giving young Victorians access to the mental health support they need and deserve – with construction now complete on a critical new mental health service in the Latrobe Valley.
Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt and Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh today toured the new Traralgon Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) centre – a modern, purpose-built service that will soon open its doors to young people in the region.
Complete with 10 private bedrooms each with their own ensuite, the new Traralgon YPARC features communal kitchen, dining and living areas, spaces for group activities and one-to-one support and outdoor areas for recreation and visits from loved ones – creating a safe, welcoming and home-like environment.
Designs for the new Traralgon YPARC service draws on the insights and experiences of clinicians, carers and young people with lived experience of mental health challenges and psychological distress – ensuring the service is fit for purpose and safe.
A key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the YPARC network across the state provides 24/7 clinical care for young people aged 16-25 experiencing mental health challenges – reducing pressure on hospitals by offering early intervention care as an alternative to acute hospital admission.
Delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with Latrobe Regional Health and builder McCorkell Constructions, the new Traralgon YPARC is part of a $141 million investment by the Allan Labor Government to more than double the capacity of Victoria’s YPARC network.
The investment includes five new 10-bed YPARC centres across the state – in Ballarat, Geelong, Heidelberg, Shepparton and Traralgon – along with upgrades to existing centres in Bendigo, Dandenong and Frankston.
The service will be operated by Mind Australia and Latrobe Regional Health, who are now working to finalise the model of care and recruit staff – with establishment activities well underway ahead of the service commencing in the coming months.
For more information, please visit vhba.vic.gov.au/mental-health/youth-services/youth-prevention-and-recovery-care-centre-expansion-program.
Quote attributable to Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt
“We’re giving young Victorians confidence that when they need mental health support, there are excellent local services like the Traralgon YPARC to help them with tailored mental health care, close to home.”
Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh
“This new facility will make a huge difference for young people across the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland – reducing pressure on local hospitals and ensuring early intervention care is available closer to home.”