More engaged than you think? How young people are driving a plan for the future

| August 24, 2012

To older generations the ideas and actions of young people may seem mysterious and unsettling. But Dr Lance Emerson says coments from Australia's youth shows they just want to feel loved and valued.

Later this year, a national action plan for children and young people will be launched, the culmination of the first stage of The Nest, an independent project to improve the health, wellbeing and life opportunities of all children young Australians.

What can we expect to see emerging from such a national plan? And who decides what is key in shaping the outcomes/strategies and thinking behind it?

The Nest project, coordinated by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) has drawn together a plethora of organisations in the youth, community, health, education and social policy areas. While there is much input and evidence-gathering at an expert level – which includes a review of available evidence as to what works and what doesn’t – we’ve deliberately placed young people at the heart of the story.

It is our strong belief that a national action plan for children and young people needs to be shaped by children and young people themselves. So through a series of consultation activities – from surveys to discussions to fun and games – young people have been having their say and giving voice to their ideas of what it is to be a child or young person in Australia. So, what have they been telling us?

What has come out of these conversations as a recurrent theme is the need for children and young people to feel loved and valued. Views have encompassed the seemingly conventional – such as having family support, friends, and emotional connections – but also a bigger picture is emerging of what it means to be loved and valued. Young people want to feel accepted and respected, not only by their peers, but by adults in the wider community.

Health and education both come up frequently in conversations with children and young people. Exercise and nutrition are key discussion areas when in health. In some group discussions, issues of mental health hardly feature at all, while in others, it comes across as a strong concern, often intertwined with peer pressure, bullying and self-harm.

Overwhelmingly, young people view education as critical in unlocking future opportunities yet it has come across that some young people are feeling disengaged and disenchanted with school.. More broadly, learning and developing is seen to involve more than just schooling, but rather opportunities to self-learn.the freedom to discover, make your own decisions and, indeed, learn from your own mistakes.

Suggestions coming up for inclusion in a plan range from broad concerns, like the cost of further education, to local community issues. Many young people believe there isn’t enough for them to do in their area, or, if there is, then not enough people know about it. This is seen to contribute to problems such as antisocial behaviour, substance abuse and public safety. This community-focused approach clearly needs to be integrated into actions arising from a national plan that looks at positive ways foreword for the wellbeing and health of children and young people in Australia.

It’s been an enlightening journey so far, to have the opportunity to hear from children and young people directly about their hopes, dreams, aspirations and concerns. The Nest continues to gather views and is right now on the ground in remote and rural communities across Australia engaging our children and young people in these vital discussions. You can get involved – whether young or young at heart – via The Nest survey, or by following us on Twitter or Facebook. For further information, please visit The Nest website.

Dr Lance Emerson is the CEO of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY). Lance has a background in primary health care and quality improvement, with a focus on 'joined-up' solutions to applying best evidence in addressing health inequities. He has worked in senior Government positions at both the State and Federal level, as a private consultant, as executive of a national member based health organisation, and has been appointed to numerous Ministerial committees and working groups. He is a member of the National Children’s Roundtable, the National Child Information Advisory Group of the Australian Government, and is also on the Board of the Climate and Health Alliance. His passion and focus is on progressing collaborative evidence based action to improve the health and wellbeing of young Australians.

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