Bailey’s two-and-a-half-year journey is one of resilience and growth. The teenager has faced challenges, but with support, he has navigated the adversity - and now faces a bright future. 

Bailey was referred to the Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Care Coordination (YAODCC) program, run by Better Together, after concerns about his vaping at school and possible risky alcohol and other drug (AOD) behaviours.  

At the time, he was in Year 10 and completing a school-based apprenticeship. 

He was facing significant family conflict, which deeply affected his stability. The strain between his family caused Bailey to lose his apprenticeship and stop attending school.  

It’s been a hard road. 

“Without support, I don't know where we would have ended up,” Bailey said. 

“We are all greatly appreciative that there is this kind of support out there for families to access. 

“All the team at YAODCC have been great to work with, and I’m thankful for the ongoing support for me and my family.” 

YAODCC Coordinator of Case Management Team Amanda Hodgkinson said Bailey had a lot to work through. 

“The team worked closely with Bailey to address his complex needs, focusing on repairing his relationship with family, providing AOD education, supporting his financial independence, and ensuring stable accommodation,” she said. 

"He returned to live with his mother, and their relationship has improved significantly. They are now working together to build a stable home environment.  

“He had a lot to work through, and he should be very proud.” 

During his involvement with YAODCC, Bailey received a formal diagnosis of ADHD and Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) through specialist referrals.  

This provided clarity and allowed him to access ongoing support, not only for himself but also for his family.  

YAODCC ensured that Bailey and his family received the resources needed to manage his conditions effectively.  

“One of Bailey’s standout achievements was his acceptance into the VPG (Vocational Partnerships Group) youth apprenticeship program, where he has recently successfully completed a 22-week conservation traineeship,” Ms Hodgkinson said. 

“Bailey contributed to maintaining 280km of bike trails and planting 3,000 trees across the Tableland district. This experience gave him a sense of pride and new skills. 

“Following his traineeship, he applied for and was offered employment with a local landscape company. This marked a significant step toward career and financial independence.”  

Bailey has also made significant strides in regulating his emotions and developing healthier coping strategies. The ongoing support from YAODCC and education for his family on how to best support him with APD and ADHD have been crucial in his growth.  

“Family visits have been encouraged to maintain strong connections with his loved ones and enhance his community ties,” she said. 

“Bailey’s journey is a testament to his perseverance. With continued support from YAODCC, he is now on a path to a fulfilling future filled with new opportunities for education, career, and personal growth.”  

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) funds Better Together to run the Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Care Coordination (YAODCC) program. 

* Surname has been omitted for privacy. 

People living in the Mareeba Shire and Atherton Tablelands regions who are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out will soon have a new kind of community support to turn to. 

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) is pleased to announce Mareeba Community Centre and Beacon Strategies will deliver Distress Brief Support, a community-based trial designed to help people navigate life’s everyday pressures - before it gets too much. 

North Queensland is one of only two Queensland sites selected as part of a national trial, the other being in Ipswich. 

NQPHN CEO Ben Tooth said Distress Brief Support wasn’t a traditional mental health or suicide prevention service or program. 

“Through extensive consultation, we heard that community members reached out to family, friends, and social networks or groups when they were stressed, rather than using traditional services,” Mr Tooth said. 

“Distress Brief Support is about connection to community support for people who might not walk into a formal service, but would turn up to a barbecue, sewing club, or Men’s Shed, where conversations naturally happen. 

“This approach has been codesigned with community organisations and community members, and we are pleased to work with Mareeba Community Centre and Beacon Strategies, so people can get support from their communities through their everyday interactions.” 

Distress Brief Support includes two elements: 

• Community engagement points, which offer immediate compassionate support, and, 

• A short-term team that provides support for up to three weeks and connections to longer-term services if needed. 

Mareeba Community Centre Inc will deliver the short-term support across the communities. 

CEO Julie Theakston said the short-term support team would link people with support services and other resources to assist them as they navigated everyday life challenges. 

“We look forward to engaging in a non-clinical, person-centred, and holistic way with people across the Atherton Tablelands and Mareeba areas who are experiencing distress. 

“We’re excited to be working with NQPHN on this project.” 

Through consultation, the importance of support to those in the community who are key engagement points was heard strongly. With this in mind, Beacon Strategies has been engaged to support the community engagement points to confidently refer people to the short-term support team. 

CEO Mitch Stalker said: “Strengthening the capacity of these local touchpoints is essential in addressing distress because it can’t be left to mental health and suicide prevention services alone. 

“We know from community feedback that local knowledge and trust are central to making this project work. That’s why we are employing locally. 

“We want to ensure the support provided to community engagement points is grounded in local context, relationships, and insight, and reflects what the community has told NQPHN they value most. 

“We’re excited to work with NQPHN and connect with a wide range of local groups, whether they’re neighbourhood centres, sporting clubs, or healthcare providers, so they can offer meaningful support to people experiencing distress.” 

Recruitment for the local positions is under way with service delivery expected to begin in the coming months. 

Distress Brief Support is funded through the Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing and Queensland Health.

More information about the initiative can be found on here.