Local teens can drop into Mallacoota Medical Centre and visit Teen Clinic nurses Helen Bryan and Carla De La Rue for free, confidential advice and treatment. Photo: Supplied.
A unique Bega initiative geared towards improving teenage health is now available in Victoria.
Teen Clinic is a free service operating out of a general practice that allows teenagers to drop in and discuss their health and lifestyle concerns in a relaxed and confidential environment.
Mallacoota Medical Centre will be operating a Teen Clinic each Monday and Thursday afternoon. No appointment is necessary, teenagers just turn up.
Teen Clinic opened at Bega Valley Medical Practice in 2015 when staff recognised a need in the community for a free, responsive and confidential service aimed at young people.
“We asked ourselves where can teenagers go for help? Not every town has a youth service for teenagers to access, but they do have access to a Medical Practice” Teen Clinic nurse, Meghan Campbell says.
“With no additional funding or resources Teen Clinic Bega was born and it’s delivered results way beyond our expectations.
“In the past 17 months there have been close to 500 visits to our five Teen Clinics. Imagine the social impact if all teenagers had access to their own Teen Clinic no matter where they lived in Australia,” Meghan says.
In 2017 the Commonwealth recognised the success of Teen Clinic Bega and funded a roll-out of Teen Clinic to four other communities – Eden, Merimbula, Narooma, and Kiama.
Teen Clinic founder, Dr Duncan MacKinnon says, “We are delighted to have a Teen Clinic open up in Mallacoota and we are continuing to develop the model so it can be delivered in other rural and regional communities around Australia”.
“A young person can bring any concern or question to Teen Clinic, medical and non-medical. If it’s important to them, it’s important to us. It’s not just mental health, it’s not just sexual health, it’s for everything in a young person’s life.”
Nurse Meghan Campbell and Bega Valley Medical Practice Manager, Jodie Meaker recently completed the three-month iAccelerate program through the Bega Valley Innovation Hub. A program designed to help new and existing businesses build a sustainable growth model.
Teen Clinic was one of seven businesses to take part and won the audience award at the recent pitch final.
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