Child and young people advisory group communiques

This document outlines CYPAG members’ contributions to upcoming Child Safety and Wellbeing (CSW) Service projects. 

CYPAG members provided their ideas at their meeting in May 2024. 

The Department acknowledges and thanks CYPAG members for their suggestions. 

Background

The CSW Service sought CYPAG input into the following projects that will be progressed in 2024 and 2025:

• Establishing ‘postcard’ resources on health topics for young Tasmanians
• Establishing ‘postcard’ resources on the behaviours young Tasmanians should expect from Department of Health workers.

These projects are being established following feedback that young Tasmanians would like more information provided to them when accessing Health services across the State, such as about health topics. This feedback includes advice from CYPAG in December 2023 (see their advice via Child and young people advisory group communiques | Tasmanian Department of Health).

Topic ideas

CYPAG members suggested the following topics should be prioritised.

• Vaping
  • What chemicals are in them?
  • How do they affect your body’s health?
  • Being non-judgmental/not blaming young people for using them.
  • Being conscious of why young people might be using them – for example, anxiety.
  • Being conscious that young people are being targeted because of marketing i.e. cheap products, electronic design, sweet flavours, and they are very accessible.
• Tobacco 
  • This topic was a maybe – it is still relevant but not as significant as vapes.
  • Being non-judgmental/not blaming young people for using them.
  • Being conscious of why young people might be using them – for example, anxiety.
• A ‘Party safe’ suite 
  • Safe sex (STI information, prevention, and treatment)
  • Consent 
  • Alcohol
  • Drugs
  • Positive relationships
  • Across all these potential topics – language must be non-judgmental and take a ‘limiting harm’ approach.
• Body image
• Family Violence 
  • A resource developed for children that are in households experiencing family violence.
  • Messages about ‘you are allowed to be safe at home’. 
• How to access/seek help and support
• Sleep
• Bullying/cyber bullying 
  • Particularly its impact on health and mental health.
  • How to access/seek help and support
• General supports for young people (Beyond Blue, Headspace, Tasmanian Lifeline, Kids Helpline)
• Stress management (in relation to relationships, friendships, exams)
• Mental Health 
  • Validating young people’s feelings
  • Being conscious of mental health stigma
  • How to access/seek help and support

General advice

• Any resources created should use engaging images/graphic design – preferably be tested with young people.
• The CSW Service should collaborate with areas of the Department, such as Public Health, to make sure it is guided by experts in health information and does not duplicate other projects.
• Draw on the general advice about resource creation from their December meeting (see Children and young people advisory group | Tasmanian Department of Health).
• UDPATE: CYPAG’s ideas were shared with CSW Service leaders. Approval was received to draw on the above ideas as CSW Service progress this project. The CSW Service thanks CYPAG members for sharing their ideas. 

• The CSW Service is developing a suite of postcards to support its ‘Child and Youth Safe Behaviours’ (CYSB) communications campaign.
• This campaign includes a suite of resources (stickers, colouring in, posters, training for staff) to help Health workers communicate to children about the behaviours that they should expect from workers when accessing health services. 
• At the May meeting, the CSW Service sought CYPAG’s help in drafting the content of the postcard resources that will be created as part of this campaign.
• CYPAG members made several wording change suggestions. 
• Some CYPAG members also provided general feedback, such as that they liked the strong and actionable language, and that they thought it was important to include safety messages for children in ways that were creative and more accessible – such as through the other CYSB resources like the colouring ins and stickers.
• UDPATE: Several of the CYSB resources are now live and available on Engagement with children and young people | Tasmanian Department of Health. The postcard resources are currently being graphically designed and will be available for use in Health services in coming months. All CYPAG content suggestions were accepted. The content of the resources, which CYPAG contributed to, has also been incorporated in child safeguarding training and education for Health workers. The CSW Service thanks CYPAG members for sharing their ideas.

What’s next?

CYPAG’s suggestions have been endorsed by CSW Service leadership for progression as part of the two projects discussed above.

This Communique will also be made public, via the Health website, and shared with Health leaders for their awareness.