A new youth health policy for NSW

The Department of Health is developing a new youth health policy for NSW.

The policy will draw on and be linked to the NSW State Plan, the State Health Plan, the NSW Youth Action Plan, In All Fairness: Increasing Equity in Health across NSW, and the Integrated Primary and Community Health Policy. It will also take into account the latest research being undertaken in youth health such as the Youth Health Better Practice Framework.

The Department of Health has contracted the NSW Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health (NSW CAAH) to lead the development of a new policy, which will:

• Use as its starting point the World Health Organization’s definition of health – "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease"
• Be based on our understanding of the current thinking and evidence about youth health and the health status of young people aged 12-24 in NSW
• Draw on our understanding about the importance of early intervention, prevention and building resilience in young people
• Involve young people and health professionals in identifying key priorities for the policy and specific strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of young people in NSW

The purpose of the new NSW youth health policy is to:

• Identify a set of principles and priorities for improving the health and wellbeing of young people in NSW, with a focus on at-risk and marginalised young people
• Guide program development within Area Health Services by providing evidence about specific health needs and priorities for young people aged between 12 and 24
• Facilitate a consistent approach to youth health program development and service delivery across the health system
• Provide direction to Area Health Services on the development and implementation of effective youth health plans.

As part of the policy development process NSW CAAH will undertake the following:

1. Lead a reference group who will provide guidance and advice in drafting the policy.
2. Conduct a literature review to provide an understanding of Increasing the Resilience of Young People at Risk.
3. Host a consulation forum with a broad range of stakeholders including young people to develop key priorities areas for the policy as well as more specific strategies to achieve the policies' goals.
4. Facilitate an online consultation forum via the Act Now website in partnership with the Inspire Foundation.
5. Collect feedback on the draft policy via the NSW CAAH website.
6. Promote the policy by implementing the communication and dissemination strategies.

For more information on the development of the policy or to explore opportunities to participate in the process please visit the CAAH website.

Source:communityNet

For further information

Contact

:

NSW Centre for the Advancement of Adolescent Health

WWW

:

http://www.caah.chw.edu.au/policy/policy.htm