Youth Services works with young people and their families aged 12-25 who live, work, study or have a significant connection to the City of Greater Dandenong.
Youth Services provides an important universal service base for young people. We seek to support the healthy physical, social and emotional development of all young people in our community, through building and enhancing protective factors and working with young people to develop their strengths and skills.
Youth Services is a generalist youth service, comprising of three teams, Counselling and Support, Engagement and Participation and Community Development.
The team is based at 39a Clow Street, Dandenong.
Commitment to Child Safety
Greater Dandenong Council Commits to:
- Hold a zero tolerance to child abuse, both within the community and within its organisation
- Ensuring the child’s best interest and safety remain a focus of all services and programs provided by Council
- Actively work towards empowering children in their own right, and that their voices and opinions are taken into consideration and influence governance and decision making to improve the lives of children
- Be responsive, caring and culturally sensitive in the services/programs provided to ensure child safety remains a priority for all children and young people
- Implement prevention and management strategies for child abuse risks, including both physical and online risks
- Uphold the safety of all children, including culturally and linguistically diverse, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and children with additional needs and disabilities
- Ensure stringent screening and implementation of appropriate training in the prevention and management of child abuse, including duty of care of executive management, volunteers and all employees.
Feedback and Complaints
We welcome your feedback about the service, both positive and negative. We want to hear about what we are doing well and what you like about the service, so that we can continue doing it, and also to know how you think we can improve our service. Please let us know if you need support such as an interpreter or advocate to provide feedback.
Your feedback can be provided by:
- Talking directly with a staff member or asking to speak with a member of the Youth and Family Services Leadership Team
- Completing a feedback form
- Contacting us via phone, email, letter, website or social media
We will take your feedback or complaint seriously and will provide you with a response within five working days.
Opening Hours
| Day | Time slot | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Monday - Friday: | 9:00 am-5:00 pm | |
| Saturday - Sunday: | Closed |
Youth and Family Services
Katharina, Coordinator Youth and Family Services
katharina.verscharen@cgd.vic.gov.au
0419 312 549
Katharina is the Coordinator of Youth and Family Services and is responsible for leading the entire service, comprising the sub teams of Family Support, Youth and Community Development, and Engagement and Participation. In her spare time Katharina enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, travelling, listening to reggae and socialising with friends
Counselling and Support
Sylvia, Team Leader Youth and Family Support Services
sylvia.marov@cgd.vic.gov.au
0403 390 591
Sylvia oversees the Youth and Family Support Team which supports the wellbeing and safety of children. Sylvia is also a psychologist and provides counselling and mental health support to young people aged between 12-25 years. She loves all things food - especially sharing food with friends, and will go exploring on a day trip any day of the week.
Andrew, Team Leader Family Support
andrew.chisholm@cgd.vic.gov.au
0408 394 379
Andrew leads a team of case managers that work with families through the Child FIRST system, and oversees groups that focus on building resilience in children and young people, as well as parenting skills. Andrew enjoys making lasagne for the team, barbeques in Summer, and wandering around the Dandenong Market.
Engagement and Participation
Yohana, Team Leader Engagement and Participation
yohana.jury@cgd.vic.gov.au
0466 329 776
Yohana leads the Youth Engagement and Participation team to provide programs and events for young people that help promote health and wellbeing, and build skills for the future. She has an education background and enjoys supporting young people in developing their skills. Yohana loves photography, cooking, travelling and riding motorbikes.
Demi, Youth Development Officer
Demi runs our FReeZA Committee, assisting young people to plan and deliver youth-led events for the community. She also facilitates our Holiday Activities Committee, working with young people to plan a variety of fun activities for our school holiday program. Demi loves spending time with family and friends, and enjoys getting stuck into a good book. She is plant-obsessed, although her half-dead plants probably don’t agree - but persistence is key!
Lizzy, Youth Development Officer
As Victorian Multicultural Commissioner, Lizzy brings an important voice, cross-cultural wisdom and powerful stories to inspire others. When she is not working with young people, Lizzy is either out for a hike or grabbing a coffee with a mate!
Jess, Youth and Family Programs Support Worker
Jess runs our Young Leaders program, supporting young people to develop leadership skills and help tackle local youth issues. She also facilitates our Happiness Project and Kickstart program, equipping young people with strategies to ease their transition to high school. Born in the UK, Jess is passionate about playing Aussie Rules Football (AFL) and loves spending time at the beach with her friends.
Youth and Community Development
Aishling, Team Leader Youth and Community Development
aishling.fagan@cgd.vic.gov.au
0401 366 443
Aishling leads the Youth and Community Development team which supports and encourages young people’s active participation in their own communities. This includes promoting youth voice, building leadership and capability; facilitating learning, skill development and volunteering opportunities. In her spare time Aishling enjoys hanging out with family and friends, exploring the great outdoors and holidaying.
Catherine, Youth Development and Community Engagement Officer
Catherine (Cat) facilitates our Young Leaders program and Noble Park Youth Committee, supporting young people to plan and deliver projects that positively impact the community. Cat helps to ensure that the voices of young people are heard, by creating opportunities for young people to express their views and ideas, including our COVID-19 Research Project and Youth Summit for schools. Cat is a massive book worm, loves gardening, and is obsessed with finding more plants to add her collection.
Patricia, Youth Development Officer
Patricia runs our FReeZA Committee and IMPACT program, supporting young people to develop new skills and gain hands-on volunteering experience within their local community. Patricia is a creative at heart spending most of her spare time creating clothing and homeware pieces, thrifting in op shops or designing digital content.
Venushi, Youth Development Officer
Venushi has a background in health promotion in Indigenous communities and is looking forward to expanding her work in the Greater Dandenong community. Venushi loves spending time outdoors, checking out new brunch spots and making desserts.
