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The regional youth advisory group (RYAG) is a group of young people from across Brisbane North. Everyone in the group has had their own struggles with mental health and are passionate about improving mental health services for their peers. We know how hard it can be to get help, especially when it feels like the services you talk to don’t really get what you’re going through or what you need to feel safe and supported.
The RYAG was created by the Brisbane North PHN as part of the 2018-2023 Planning for Wellbeing Regional Plan. The Regional Plan is made up of chapters, with each chapter representing a different focus area. Within each chapter, there are goals and actions that the community has identified are important in improving the relevant mental health services. Chapter 9 centres on making improvements to mental health supports for children, young people, and their families. To make these improvements, stakeholders come together from across the region with the Regional Plan acting as their guide. The different services and people coming together are collectively known as a partnership group.
In 2020 it was identified that the youth voice was missing from the partnership group and whilst there were representatives from a range of different youth services, there weren’t any young people in the room! After this, the RYAG was created to make sure young people were present whenever decisions were being made about the things that impact them. Afterall, how can mental health supports meet the needs of young people if no one actually asks the young people what they want and need?
The RYAG is committed to being a strong youth voice and to not just provide feedback to services, but to flip the tables and lead the direction of what youth mental health services should look like. We strongly believe that young people know what’s best for them and that they hold the answers for making mental health services work in ways that meet their needs.
So, what does the RYAG actually do? The RYAG reviews the Regional Plan and chooses focus areas they believe are important. Currently, we are working on a project based on action 9.4.2, ‘Create better lived experience engagement strategies at the service and systems level’. The RYAG prioritised this action as it is essential that the voices of young people are used to guide the mental health response for young people and ensure supports are appropriate and impactful. We have monthly meetings to progress on our projects as well as participating as youth representatives in partnership group meetings and other Planning for Wellbeing activities.
We are still a new group and the way we work together is ever evolving as we learn how we can make the most meaningful and lasting impact for our peers. Our processes may not always be perfect but it is an exciting time to see the youth voice being prioritised and being part of transforming the way services partner with young people to deliver mental health supports.
The regional youth advisory group (RYAG) is a group of young people from across Brisbane North. Everyone in the group has had their own struggles with mental health and are passionate about improving mental health services for their peers. We know how hard it can be to get help, especially when it feels like the services you talk to don’t really get what you’re going through or what you need to feel safe and supported.
The RYAG was created by the Brisbane North PHN as part of the 2018-2023 Planning for Wellbeing Regional Plan. The Regional Plan is made up of chapters, with each chapter representing a different focus area. Within each chapter, there are goals and actions that the community has identified are important in improving the relevant mental health services. Chapter 9 centres on making improvements to mental health supports for children, young people, and their families. To make these improvements, stakeholders come together from across the region with the Regional Plan acting as their guide. The different services and people coming together are collectively known as a partnership group.
In 2020 it was identified that the youth voice was missing from the partnership group and whilst there were representatives from a range of different youth services, there weren’t any young people in the room! After this, the RYAG was created to make sure young people were present whenever decisions were being made about the things that impact them. Afterall, how can mental health supports meet the needs of young people if no one actually asks the young people what they want and need?
The RYAG is committed to being a strong youth voice and to not just provide feedback to services, but to flip the tables and lead the direction of what youth mental health services should look like. We strongly believe that young people know what’s best for them and that they hold the answers for making mental health services work in ways that meet their needs.
So, what does the RYAG actually do? The RYAG reviews the Regional Plan and chooses focus areas they believe are important. Currently, we are working on a project based on action 9.4.2, ‘Create better lived experience engagement strategies at the service and systems level’. The RYAG prioritised this action as it is essential that the voices of young people are used to guide the mental health response for young people and ensure supports are appropriate and impactful. We have monthly meetings to progress on our projects as well as participating as youth representatives in partnership group meetings and other Planning for Wellbeing activities.
We are still a new group and the way we work together is ever evolving as we learn how we can make the most meaningful and lasting impact for our peers. Our processes may not always be perfect but it is an exciting time to see the youth voice being prioritised and being part of transforming the way services partner with young people to deliver mental health supports.
