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Youth Housing and Homelessness Support Services

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BCH Youth Housing and Homelessness Services Now Co‑Located with headspace Ballarat

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Working together to support young people

Ballarat Community Health (BCH) has strengthened its commitment to supporting young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness by bringing its youth housing and homelessness services together under one roof with headspace Ballarat.

The new co-location creates a collaborative and community‑focused space where young people can access integrated support across housing, health and wellbeing—making it easier to get the right help, in the right place, at the right time.

Youth Housing

The BCH youth housing and homelessness team provides a range of programs designed to support young people aged 15–25 who are experiencing homelessness or facing housing instability. Services now delivered from the co‑located site include

  • Youth Specialist Homelessness Support
  • Specialist case management and support for young people experiencing homelessness or at risk.

Find out more about Youth Housing

Creating Connections

A program helping young people secure stable, longer-term housing by providing brokerage, advocacy and case coordination. 

Find out more about Creating Connections

Innovative Health Services for Homeless Youth (IHSHY)

A flexible program providing tailored health and wellbeing support for young people disengaged from traditional services.

IHSHY Resources

By co‑locating with headspace Ballarat, BCH is creating a more streamlined pathway for young people to access housing support alongside mental health, physical health, and wellbeing services.

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      We invite you to take part in the CycLink Co‑Design Study

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      We invite you to take part in the CycLink Co‑Design Study

      headspace Ballarat

      We invite you to take part in the CycLink Co‑Design Study: From Principles to Program. This project brings together young people with disability, their families, and community partners to help design a new, inclusive cycling program.

      What is CycLink?

      CycLink is a cycling program being created with young people with disability and their families. The goal is to make cycling fun, flexible, and accessible for everyone—no matter what kind of bike you use or where you live.

      CycLink is ethics approved and Co-designed by The University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and Australian Catholic University (ACU).

      What We’re Working on Together

      We want to work with you to

      • Create a community‑based cycling program led by trained coaches
      • Develop easy‑to‑use online cycling resources for young people with disability and their families.

      How You Can Get Involved

      We are looking for young people with disability and their families to join online group workshops.

      In these workshops, you can

      • Share your ideas and experiences
      • Help us design how CycLink should look and work
      • Tell us what helps make cycling easier, more enjoyable, and more inclusive

        Workshop Details

        Format Online via Zoom

        Who

        • Adults can join up to three workshops
        • Children can join one workshop

        When February 2026

        Want to Join? Please read the information and register your interest by submitting the
        Registration of Interest Form.

        Contact

        If you have any questions, please contact
        Alesha Southby, Project Coordinator

        email [email protected]

        Phone 0401 015 252

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        When we make sport more inclusive, everyone wins

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        When we make sport more inclusive, everyone wins

        headspace Ballarat

        Access to Sport Survey

        In 2025 headspace Ballarat surveyed 94 Ballarat based young people aged 12-25 to identify barriers that trans and gender diverse young people face when accessing sport. The average age of participants was 18.5, with 50% identifying as Women, 32% Transgender or Gender Diverse and 18% as men.

        The results show significant differences between cisgender and transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth.

        • While 56% of cisgender youth find it easy or very easy to access sport, only 33% of TGD youth report the same experience. TGD young people are much more likely to face barriers when trying to participate.

        • Bullying and discrimination are also more common for TGD youth, with 60% reporting negative experiences in sport compared to 47.6% of cisgender youth.

        • TGD youth are five times less likely to be open about their gender identity in sport settings and three in four feel anxious about being accepted or affirmed by others.

        Overall, the findings highlight the need for overtly inclusive, affirming, and safe sport environments to support the participation and wellbeing of transgender and gender diverse young people. Sport clubs, organisations, and communities can play a vital role in supporting TGD youth by actively addressing discrimination, by offering trans-affirming programs that prioritise safety, belonging, and enjoyment for ALL young people.

        pdf Headspace Ballarat Access to Sport Survey 2025

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        Headspace Ballarat Access to Sport Survey 2025

        In 2025 headspace Ballarat surveyed 94 Ballarat based young people aged 12-25 to identify barriers that trans and gender diverse young people face when accessing sport.

        Continue reading