National Youth Roundtable 2002 Member Profiles

Katherine, 20, is a youth worker employed through the Hills Community Support Group and is in her second year of a Social Science (Youth Work) degree.

Through various community organisations she has volunteered her time to gain experience in the youth work field.

These include the North Metropolitan Community Drug Service team, the Stand by Me Youth Service and the Eastern Perth Public and Community Health Unit.

She is also involved in the community as a member of the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia.

Katherine wants to raise awareness about dual diagnosis of drug addiction and mental illness to move towards providing services that work holistically to address these issues.

She is also interested in promoting youth friendly GPs and providing more youth workers in high schools.

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Twenty year old Justin is doing a Bachelor of Applied Science (Disability Studies) at Deakin University and works as a disability therapist in a private home.

He is a tutor/helper with the Homework Club at St Judes Church in Carlton, a member of the Christian Union and a Warrant Officer of the Boys’ Brigade Australia.

Justin is interested in enabling disabled students to have equity and choice in mainstream education by instigating policy changes to raise awareness of the health issues that can affect them.

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Nathan, 18, has just completed year 12 at Saint Paul’s College.

The recipient of the Australia Day Scholarship for Bond University, Nathan is now studying Law.

He has been actively involved in his school community as a member on the Student Representative Council and in 2000 was awarded Student Marianist Award for community spirit.

Nathan has also been involved in a number of community fund-raising activities and was a delegate at the 2001 United Nations Youth Conference.

Nathan believes that Australia needs a national focus to solve, not minimise, the problems associated with drugs.

He would like to see Federal, State and Territory Governments commit to a unified approach to the National Drug Strategy.

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Jessica, 18, has held the roles of class student representative and a year level representative on the Student Representative Council.

She has represented both Marian and the local community at State Youth Forums, is involved with the Justice and Democracy Forum, St. Vincent de Paul Chapter, Amnesty International Group and assisted in the development of the school Bullying and Harassment Policy.

Jessica wants to address the needs of young people who are same-sex attracted.

She aims to develop mechanisms to assist young people in coming to terms with their sexuality and help them develop a positive sense of self.

Jessica feels this is important because social isolation or alienation can restrict young people's valuable contribution to society.

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Nineteen year old Rebecca is studying a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of South Australia.

While she was at school, she initiated and co-ordinated a rural youth health program in the Barossa Valley, which has been adopted by a number of schools.

Rebecca works at her local nursing home and is actively involved in youth affairs through local and state organisations.

She won the Young South Australian Citizen of the Year award in 2001.

Rebecca is examining how isolation contributes to youth suicide. She will make recommendations to contribute to the reduction of youth suicide rates based on her research of current programs.

Rebecca believes that Governments and service providers need to combine long-term programs with action and information that is more direct so that they can reach young people with suicidal thoughts today, not tomorrow.

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Thao, 21, is currently studying at the University of Sydney and works closely with Open Family in Cabramatta.

Thao is also on the youth sub-committee of the Vietnamese Community of Australia (NSW) and is President of the Vietnamese Students Association.

Thao is interested in reducing drug use and addiction among young people through drug education reform.

As a young person growing up in South West Sydney, Thao has witnessed the destructive nature of drug addiction and feels strongly that drug education needs to focus more on the reality of drug lifestyles, rather than 'textbook' definitions.

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Jemma, 16, has just completed Year 10 at South Grafton High School.

She is a scholar, musician, vocalist and sportsperson. She has been a member of the school SRC for four years and acts as a leader at Christian camps.

Jemma is a debater and has represented the North Coast of NSW in public speaking.

Jemma wants to investigate mental health with a particular focus on female eating disorders and resultant depression/suicide.

She hopes to develop a range of strategies through health education in schools and increased access to mental health services for young people, to increase community awareness and help individuals gain a positive identity and alternative lifestyle options.

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Twenty two year old Adrian is a self employed lecturer on life changing skills for high school students.

He established his own company, Little Leaps of Logic, in 1998 and has lectured to over 4,000 students from over 50 high schools.

Adrian is currently studying to be an Accredited Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner.

Adrian referees and trains others to referee soccer. His service to the community has been recognized by an Order of Australia Commendation.

Adrian is passionate about youth suicide prevention and wants to develop 'Create!', a program to develop life changing skills and tools to allow students to create a positive sense of self.

The program will also aim to reduce youth suicide rates by providing young people with coping skills to help them create a sense of resilience.

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Gay and proud, twenty three year old Alastair grew up on a cattle station in Central Queensland.

Having moved to Canberra to study, he is currently the ANU Students’ Association Sexuality Officer.

Alastair is a volunteer with the ACT AIDS Action Council and has previously served on the National Union of Students National Queer Committee.

Alastair is interested in practical ways to reduce the level of sexuality/homophobia related suicide among young Australians.

Alastair does not want others to experience being suicidal as a gay teenager in the same way he did and believes that we can do something about sexuality/homophobia related youth suicide.

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