Co-design goes beyond traditional methods of consultation and instead forms authentic partnerships with stakeholders, including lived experience.

This approach utilises knowledge and experience to develop, design and deliver a more successful program, product, or service.

This week’s guest Katherine Ellis is CEO of Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic), the peak body and leading advocate for young people and the youth sector in Victoria.

Katherine’s previous roles include Director of Youth Affairs at the Commonwealth of Nations, working on youth policy and programs across 53 countries: and CEO of youth development organisation the Reach Foundation. Earlier, she spent over a decade in the private sector, working both in Australia and internationally in a variety of analysis, strategy, and corporate social responsibility roles.

Katherine believes that it is vitally important to recognise young people as experts in their own lives, and make sure their unique needs and perspectives are at the heart of the policies, decisions and programs that affect them.

Stay tuned as Katherine joins me to discuss the vital elements of co-design, and how working with young people can vastly improve the way we approach and improve mental health care for future generations.