Make our voice heard: Kids Helpline is checking in on 15–24 year olds
Kids Helpline, the country’s only free, 24/7 online and phone counselling service is celebrating its 30 year anniversary and is encouraging children and young people aged 15–24 years of age across Australia to come to the party and have a say in the Your Voice national online survey.
“As a provider of virtual counselling services to young people across Australia for three decades, Kids Helpline is well positioned to provide government with the views of young people resulting from the Your Voice survey to help shape federal government priorities, policies and programs that affect youth,” said yourtown CEO Tracy Adams.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic putting pressure on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, widespread impacts are still being felt in the community, so it is important for young people to have their say on the issues that matter to them now and into the future,” continued Ms Adams.
“The survey is asking open-ended questions to better understand young people’s thoughts and key concerns, and to provide well informed, impartial and actionable advice to government regarding issues that affect young people, said Ms Adams.
“Kids Helpline continuously listens and seeks to understand youth perspectives. We encourage young people across the nation to share their opinions and comment on topics that affect them. Young people’s voices must be heard,” Ms Adams continued.
Results from stage one of the survey have identified issues that young people have raised to Kids Helpline as needing government action; Health and Mental Health (84.5%), Education (69%), Employment (53%), Income Support (43%), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues (32%) and Disabilities (32%).
“It is imperative that we continue to gather up-to-date and relevant information on what young people are experiencing, to enable Kids Helpline to advocate to government for the services and policy changes that they need.
“The confidential online national survey is the first stage of the four part Your Voice survey, probing the views of marginalised young people to enable improved engagement and consultation with young people regarding government decision making.
“The next stage will be an online forum to discuss the issues in more depth, which will assist with the development of policy, processes and development towards the release of the federal government’s National Youth Policy Framework due for completion in December," continued Ms Adams.
Ms Adams urges young people to voice their issues by heading to the Your Voice survey landing page: https://kidshelpline.com.au/yourvoice
Facebook: @kidshelpline, Insta @kidshelplineau, Twitter @KidsHelplineAU.
- Ends -
yourtown Corporate Communications & Media Advisor: Maree Reason-Cain Phone 0423 843 786 OR [email protected]
