Watch recording: Young people, homelessness and access to health care
The Department of Nursing and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre hosted the third of four public nursing seminars on 3 August 2023.
Guest speaker Dot Henning from the Department of Adolescent Medicine at the Royal Children’s Hospital spoke on Young People, Homelessness and Access to Health Care, guiding nurses and nursing students through the challenges and rewards of working with vulnerable youth in community health settings.
Dot Henning is a Youth Health Nurse Practitioner and a Midwife. She has a Diploma of Adolescent Health (and Welfare), a Master of Nursing and a PhD. She was endorsed as one of the first four Nurse Practitioners in Victoria. Dot works at the Young People’s Health Service (YPHS), a program of the Department of Adolescent Medicine at the Royal Children’s Hospital. YPHS is located in a community setting co-located with other services to address the needs of young people experiencing homelessness. Being a program of the hospital brings the benefits of clinical governance and support, while working within a social service setting provides connection with highly vulnerable young people who may not otherwise access healthcare.
Dot has worked at the Young People’s Health Service (YPHS) for 21 years, developing and refining her practice to best meet the complex health needs of young homeless people. She believes health access and good health care should be equally available to all young people.