Support for Youth & young adults with Disability our focus is Mental Health & Wellbeing

Hi there! I am Lisa, the Director and Founder of Valley Youth Supports. VYS Supports was born from lived experience. I am the mum of a neurodivergent young person who is "school can't", and I understand the struggles of daily life. I am a highly trained support worker who holds a Certificate IV in disability, along with extensive mental health training, trauma-informed care, Asd, Pda and Adhd, with many years of experience working with young people and adults with diverse disability needs and challenges. I have worked in all support areas, including residential, respite for children and adults, and travelling the world on group-supported getaways. I have found that there is a gap within the NDIS support, where neurodiverse youth do not have or have minimal support that is very much needed.

Without support that is suitable for individuals in environments that have proven to help them grow, some youth who may be in burnout for many different reasons can become hyper-focussed on gaming and this can lead to high anxiety and depression, among other challenges, as they sit in rooms all day communicating in a virtual world.

Evidence shows that our youth can end up developing low self-esteem and poor people skills, which may lead them to dive deeper into depression. VYS Supports is not a service that encourages non-gaming. We believe gaming is important for self-regulation. Our vision is to support our young people to live a life with balance, coping skills, self-regulation and have fun along the way - who knows, they might even have fun!

I want to help support the change and build my dream into reality! So many families like my family! Feel supported in this world we don’t know how to get out of - VYS Supports wants to help families, overcome coming out the other side of challenges, to have happy young people out living life to their fullest potential, while feeling supported by experienced staff.

Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional support services to individuals in our community. Our team is committed to promoting independence, inclusion, and empowerment for people living with disabilities. We understand the unique needs of each individual and tailor our support services to ensure they can live their lives to the fullest.

Most of the time, youth in burnout take time to build up the courage to accept support, that’s ok! It's all about finding what works for your young person. We are here to help support the process to help your person thrive!

Our approach is person-centred, focusing on the strengths and goals of the individuals we support. We believe in fostering a supportive and nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Whether it's daily living skills, community participation, in-home or employment support, we work closely with our youth to help them achieve their aspirations and lead meaningful lives.

With a team of highly skilled and compassionate support workers, Valley Youth Supports is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of our young people with disabilities. We are passionate about advocating for the rights and opportunities of individuals and strive to create a more inclusive and accessible society for all.

Our Support approach is designed to engage young people in one-on-one support that is a fun and active experience. We have experienced staff dedicated to helping participants enjoy life, build friendships, and receive mentorship support. Activities include, but are not limited to:

•  Playing basketball, football, soccer, golf, tennis - Visiting the driving range - Boxing - Going to the skate park - Swimming 
• Gym support 
• Attending sporting events
• Learning to fish and throw crab pots - catch-clean-cook experiences are also available 
• Skimming rocks at the beach 
• Park fun 
• Enjoying whale-watching picnics 
• Going on bush, beach walks and exploring nature 
• Search for Pokémon 
•  Visiting museums 
• Learning to budget, purchase food and cook at park BBQS, or engaging in cooking and baking at home or a facility 
• Exploring the animal park 
• Riding bikes or scooters 
• FlipOut (trampoline park) 
• Participating in arts and crafts  
• Library  
• Going on excursions of interest  
• Movies 
• Travel training for bus, train, and tram/light rail transportation
• Wellness - Mindfulness - Meditation workshops 
• Horse riding - 1:1 access to an Equine-assisted mental health practitioner - promoting emotional wellbeing through the healing  power of horses - therapy sessions qualify for NDIS funding 

The list of activities is endless, and no day is ever the same or boring!