Orygen

Orygen, founded over 30 years ago, is Australia’s largest youth mental health research organisation, addressing the fact that 75% of mental ill-health begins by age 25. It pioneered youth mental health with a focus on early intervention and evidence-based care.

Orygen integrates research, education, advocacy, and clinical services to improve outcomes for young people. It delivers care through five headspace centres in northwest Melbourne and the Orygen@Home program in Footscray. Orygen Assist, the focus of this application, supports young people and families experiencing hardship by providing essential food, new clothing, and hygiene items. We have one volunteer-run shop in Parkville and deliver online orders to our 6 local Orygen/headspace centres across Melbourne’s northwest.

Australia’s escalating cost-of-living crisis disproportionately affects low-income families, making essential expenses unmanageable. This increases stress, exacerbates mental ill-health, and places additional pressures on families caring for young people with mental health needs. As a result, demand for Orygen Assist continues to grow. In the last 12 months alone, we supported 4,569 young people and families with 27,004 essential items.

Our priority is to establish an Orygen Assist shop in each Orygen/headspace centre. Funding will directly support the establishment and stocking of these shops.

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