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YouthKan Transitional Specialised Accommodation Service

YouthKan Transitional Specialised Accommodation Service (Youth Support Program) is a trauma-informed, strengths-based program designed for young people aged 10–17 who are experiencing placement instability or high-risk care situations. The model integrates an Occupational Therapist who works alongside young people, team leaders, staff and their support networks to build capacity, strengthen resilience, and improve long-term outcomes.

The program is structured across three flexible phases:

  • STEP In – providing immediate stabilisation and safety planning, with a focus on emotional regulation, building routines and mental and physical wellbeing.
  • STEP Down – supporting wellbeing, skill development, confidence building, and readiness for sustainable transitions into alternate care arrangements, through intensive and holistic practice and capacity building supports
  • STEP Forward – maintaining positive momentum and safe living arrangements by consolidating skills, embedding community supports, and strengthening placement sustainability to reduce the risk of disruption.

 

This graduated framework recognises that recovery and growth are non-linear processes. It offers developmentally responsive, tailored support that amplifies young people’s voice, choice, and agency. Each phase provides scaffolded opportunities for learning and independence, with support gradually reducing as confidence and capability increase.

Two women sitting on a bench having a conversation outside | Featured image for the NDIS Providers YouthKan Page of Karakan.
Two women sitting on a bench having a conversation outside | Featured image for the NDIS Providers YouthKan Page of Karakan.

We do this across the young persons’ journey in out of home care and towards adulthood by ensuring each individual has:

  • Safe, nurturing and stable home environment.

  • Specialised recovery-oriented service that provides person-centred, trauma-informed and strengths-based youth mental health support in a home and living environment and builds individual skills and capacity that encompasses the young person and their family.

  • NDIS access pathway (where required) and assistance coordinating and gathering eligibility evidence, submitting access request application, working with NDIS planner to obtain approved funding, developing the NDIS Plan, and coordinating and connecting with appropriate supports.

  • Service continuity and support navigating systems when transitioning into adulthood and out of out of home care, providing service coordination to ensure appropriate housing and supports.

How Does YouthKan Work?

When a young person is referred to our service, a Wellbeing Plan is collaboratively prepared with the young person, the Department of Child Safety and other key stakeholders (such as family members, if appropriate). This enables each young person to identify, voice and outline their home and living needs, goals and outcomes, helping them to plan with optimism, build capacity, have a sense of belonging and purpose, and achieve their potential.

The Wellbeing Plan provides a guide to the young person, Karakan and their supports. It is regularly reviewed, adapted, and evolved with the young person and their stakeholders to help them identify, celebrate and evaluate their progress, needs, challenges, strengths and areas of ongoing focus and growth. 

Wherever possible the young person’s family will be engaged in the development, ongoing establishment and review of the young person’s Wellbeing Plan, as this is consistent with applying a holistic, recovery-oriented and capacity building approach to planning and supports.

Key Elements of YouthKan

Specialised Support
  • Youth mental health support and psychosocial support in residential service
  • Recovery-oriented practice with young person and family
  • TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) framework
  • Hope and Healing framework
Building Capacity
  • Learning, education and interests
  • Building and managing relationships
  • Access to funding and NDIS supports to meet needs and build capacity
  • Working in partnership with clinical youth mental health supports, allied health and community supports
Continuity of Supports
  • Help transitioning to formal and informal supports when 18 years old
  • Assistance to navigate systems and services
  • Provide housing and social supports
YouthKan Practice Framework

YouthKan Practice Framework

Trusted Specialist Youth Support Service Provider

Karakan is dedicated to tailored and meaningful support to create a better future for young people. 

To get started on your YouthKan journey, please give us a call on (07) 3299 1898 or send an email to customerservice@karakan.com.au.

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