Youth Services

About ACSS

The Accompanied Children Support Service (ACSS) provides trauma-informed, child-centred support for children and young people (0-17 years) who have experienced domestic and family violence, are experiencing homelessness, or are at risk of homelessness while accompanied by a parent or primary carer.


Children and young people are supported to achieve their goals and manage trauma.


Children and young people:

  • Have the security and stability they deserve.
  • Have access to trauma-informed care and support.
  • Remain connected to school, friends and community & culture.
  • Have their goals and views heard.
  • Have improved health and wellbeing.
  • Build resilience to tackle future challenges.
  • Build emotional regulation skills.

Eligibility

Referrals are accepted for:

  • Children and young people aged 0-17 years who are accompanied by a parent or primary carer.
  • Children and young people who have experienced or been impacted by domestic and family violence.
  • Children and young people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness

Referrals:

Referrals to the Accompanied Children Support Service (ACSS) can be made in the following ways:

  • Self Referral: Parents or guardians can visit our office at 9-11 White Street, Dubbo NSW 2830.
  • Email Referral: Complete a referral form and send it to: intake@oranasupport.com.au
    Free Call 1800 353 199
  • Service Referral: Schools, community organisations, Youth Justice, Family and Community Services (DCJ), and other local support services can also refer children to ACSS.

ACSS Supports

ACSS support services are implemented in a way that is person-centred and trauma-informed.


Our aim is to enhance opportunities for children and young people to achieve the goals in their case plans and manage trauma associated with homelessness and a domestic and family violence experience.

Emotional and Therapeutic Support

Helping children process trauma through play-based, age-appropriate, and therapeutic engagement. services.

Life Skills and Social Connection

Access to life skills groups, our Breakfast Club, after-school programs, and recreational activities to promote confidence and belonging.

Advocacy and Case Coordination

Working in partnership with service providers to ensure consistent, wraparound support across systems.

Support with Education

Assistance with school/day care enrolments, learning support, liaison with educators to support learning, wellbeing, and increase participation in education.

Parent and Carer Support

Referrals to parenting, housing, counselling, and family support services to strengthen long-term wellbeing and recovery.

Culture, Identity and Community

We support connection to culture, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, through inclusive, culturally safe practice.

Health and Wellbeing Coordination

Linking children with GPs, psychologists, paediatricians, speech or occupational therapists, and other allied health services.

Housing Advocacy

We liaise with housing support services to advocate for safe and stable accommodation for children and young people and their families.

Specialist Worker for Children and Young People (SWCYP)

The SWCYP program aims to break the cycle of disadvantage and improve client outcomes for children and young people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and who have been impacted by domestic and family violence.


Our SWCYP client support is based in our Dubbo Women’s Refuge, providing trauma informed, family centred and culturally safe supports. Children and young people in the refuge who require specialist children’s support are identified and supported with direct and tailored services and supports. They are supported to access mainstream and specialist services.



  • Needs assessment
  • Case planning and management
  • Specialist services
  • Referrals to other services
  • Connections to schools, community, culture, family and country.
  • One-to-one and group sessions with parents and children
  • Advocacy assistance to children and parents
  • Brokerage

Bail and Accommodation Support Service (BASS)

Our BASS program is a placement and case support service for young persons aged between twelve (12) and seventeen (17) years old. At our Youth Accommodation Centre we offer a youth-centred, trauma-informed, solution-focused care practice for young people based on the needs, goals and preferences of the young person and their family.


Target Group:

  • 12 and 17 year olds who:
  • are at risk of entering custody due to lack of accommodation, transport, and case support services.
  • have been granted bail and a Magistrate has instructed that they remain in Youth Justice custody until appropriate accommodation is secured for them.
  • are on conditional bail granted under the provisions of Section 28 of the NSW Bail Act 20131.


Accommodation and support services include:

  • Supported accommodation for up to 28 days
  • Male and female accommodation wings
  • Indoor and outdoor recreation areas
  • Support to meet bail conditions and to meet obligations to attend court, either in person or via AVL.
  • Experienced specialist support staff on duty 24 hours


Working with families and building connections

Within the constraints of bail conditions and/or legal orders we involve family members in goal setting and exit planning. We may also provide practical support to build skills and increase connections between family members.


Young people are supported to reconnect with their family and community and build, maintain and enhance relationships and connections. We provide a range of culturally, gender and age-appropriate psychosocial supports and services to meet the range of needs of young people.


Flexibility

Services, activities and interventions are flexible and tailored so that they respond to each young person’s needs and are not overridden by selective or prescriptive criteria which potentially restrict young people’s access to a diverse range of service responses.


Inclusion and diversity

We are sensitive to the needs of young people from diverse linguistic, cultural and religious backgrounds, engaging with local Aboriginal and CALD organisations to focus on improving the cultural identity and belonging for those young people.


Young people living with disabilities

We identify young people with a disability and provide appropriate supports and services, including the young person’s engagement and participation in the NDIS.

Specialised Substitute Residential Care (SSRC)

Specialised Substitute Residential Care is where a parent makes an arrangement with us for their child to receive overnight respite care or behaviour support for 3 or more nights in a 7-day period outside of the family home.


We provide this service under the Child Safe Scheme and follow the SSRC code of practice.


Specialised substitute residential care is an arrangement between a parent and Orana Support Service. The care must be for respite or behaviour support or funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).


Our SSRC program is monitored by the Office of the Children’s Guardian and includes:

  • stays of 3 or more nights within a 7-day period in our Youth Accommodation Centre
  • short-term accommodation through the NDIS