Youth Health
A summary of youth health related initiatives
The Department of Health and Ageing has funded, established and implemented a range of programs and strategies that address, or are relevant to, the health and well-being of young people. Our programs are based on evidence and knowledge of the major health issues facing young people today.
Improving access to Medicare
Australia's health care system provides universal access to quality care at reasonable cost through the provision of medical and pharmaceutical benefits, other funding of general practitioner programs and funding agreements with State and Territories for public hospital services. Young people are entitled to hold their own Medicare card from the age of 15 years and consequently, are able to obtain independent access to health services. For more information see the Medicare Australia website.Prevention, promotion and treatment
Immunisation: The Department, in conjunction with States and Territories, has conducted immunisation programs for 18-30 year olds as part of the Young Adults Measles-Mumps-Rubella Campaign. More information on this and other programs can be found on the Immunise Australia website.National HIV/AIDS Strategy: The Department remains committed to education campaigns for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C and a number of projects have been developed with a youth focus, including: Talking Sexual Health, a parents' guide to discussing sexual health matters with their children.
Mental Health Initiatives: A number of national activities and resources developed under the National Mental Health Strategy (NMHS) and National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) specifically address the needs of youth, including booklets such as Tips for Parents; Growing up with young people and MindMatters: the National Mental Health Promotion Initiative for Secondary Schools.
- Kids Help Line is a national telephone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 18 years
- Auseinet, the Australian Network for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health, seeks to facilitate the implementation of mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention and suicide prevention initiatives in the mental health and other sectors.
Rural Health Services: The Regional Health Services Program aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people in rural Australia by providing small rural communities with funding for primary health services. Services that can be funded include youth services, podiatry, physiotherapy, rural health promotion, illness and injury prevention, women's health, children's services, community nursing, mental health, radiology and immunisation.
A range of scholarships are offered in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and allied health to encourage students to undertake a health career in regional, rural and remote Australia. There are also scholarships available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and for health professionals who wish to upgrade their qualifications.
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Strategies for the prevention of drug use and harm among young people: Recent evidence from key data sources such as the National Drug Household Survey of the rise in risky and high-risk drug and alcohol consumption by teenagers, particularly among young women, is a cause for concern for all governments and non-government organisations representing young people.
Under the current Strategy there are a number of activities and key initiatives focusing on young people and targeting families and parents, including the following:
- The National Drugs Campaign, a comprehensive community education and information strategy, divided into two parts - an information strategy to meet needs of parents, carers and the broader community, and targeted strategies relating to youth.
- The Community Partnerships Initiative, a community grants program encouraging the prevention and reduction of illicit substance use with a focus on young people, by mobilising communities and fostering relationships between governments and the broader community.
- The National Tobacco Campaign, the most collaborative, intensive and sustained campaign in Australia's history.
A number of programs funded to promote healthy and substance free lifestyles for young Indigenous Australians such as the Central Australian Youth Link Up Service (CAYLUS) and Youth Outreach Program, Deadly Vibe Magazine, Beyond their Limits, and Koorie Kids Melbourne.
For further information on any of the above initiatives contact: Population Health Division, phone 02 6289 1555; email: PHD Frontdesk
