Service Development
Including Empowering Children & Young People.

Wellbeing in childhood is associated with a range of positive outcomes such as higher academic attainment, economic security and improved social relationships. It is a long-term investment for society and requires a solid foundation of strategies across perinatal influences, family and other interpersonal relationships, schools and workplaces, sports, social and cultural activities, media influences, and both government and non-government services.

Transition points are critical times of great change and can often be the trigger for mental ill-health. We are seeking robust submissions that focus on evidence-based research and/or creative initiatives that can be applied early in life and/or early in the progression of a mental health condition.

We encouraged you to consider diversity in all its forms and how preventative methods can be applied and adapted across a range of communities.

Key Factors:

• Infancy health factors
• Preventative methods including physical activity, nutrition and use of role models
• School based, community based or parent-targeted programs
• Developmental challenges in the post Covid Era 
• Internet/Gaming Addiction
• Bullying, on and off line

Services aim to improve mental health and wellbeing of infants, children, adolescents, parents, guardians and carers, in order to reduce the lifetime risk and burden of mental illnesses within society. To achieve this, we need to continually transform and redesign service delivery, and adapt accordingly to internal and external influences, including the voices of the young. Services must up-skill and respond appropriately to diversity.

We are seeking robust submissions that explore the variety of support services for children and young people with emotional and behavioural problems.

We highly encourage submissions exploring integrated systems and service access challenges for children, parents and families.

Key Factors:

• Connecting and engaging young people and families
• Exploring successful and/or alternative methods in support and treatment
• What skills/opportunities are there for youth to positively shift structural barriers to access support?
• How does feeling empowered/having a sense of agency impact the mental health of young people?
• Comorbid mental health and other disorders
• Coordinated response between health and social services such as housing and foster arrangements

Did you know? Half the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is aged 21 years or younger and people aged 18–24 years report higher levels of psychological distress than non-Aboriginal people the same age.

The sector needs to work with and alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and workers, recognising and respecting their unique cultural and historical context and lived experience. The question remains, how?

We are seeking robust submissions that can speak on proactive assessment, treatment and implementation. A focus on First Nations-led programs and projects is encouraged.

Key Factors:

• Respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural factors and responding accordingly
• Indigenous led programs and projects for young people
• Working with communities to improve mental health outcomes

Australia has a diverse community – it is one of our greatest strengths. From LGBTIQA+ to migrants, refugees and those with disability - children and young people have the ability to make wonderful change.

It is well documented however that 80% of homophobic bullying occurs at school, with LGBTIQA+ communities three times more likely to experience depression.

Teenagers with disability or chronic conditions are also at greater risk of depression than peers.

We are seeking robust submissions to determine why and how services can be better equipped to understand cultural factors and personal needs.

Key Factors:

• Intersectionality
• Refugee and migrant cultural factors and responses
• Supporting LGBTIQA+ young people and families
• Working with young people with disabilities and long term planning