Youth Reference Group

Hey there! Joining our Youth Reference Group is an awesome opportunity for you to learn new skills and help spread the word about how important mental health is for young people like you.

As a member of our group, we want you to believe in the values of headspace Albury Wodonga and headspace Wangaratta and help make our centres the best place for youth mental health support.
You'll be the voice of young people in our communities, which is a big deal! We want you to have a say in what happens at our centres and even at a national level. You'll get to share your ideas and make sure they're heard while developing incredible skills like leadership, media, communication, and advocacy. And guess what? You'll even be able to help shape mental health policies!
We're all about getting young people involved in our work and want to show everyone how it's done.

As a Youth Reference Group member, you'll get the chance to speak to the media about what we're up to, help plan and run events, and create awesome marketing materials. In addition, we want you to bring your unique strengths and abilities to the group and learn new things along the way.

So what do you say? Are you ready to join us and make a real difference in youth mental health? If so fill out the application form below!

headspace Albury Wodonga and headspace Wangaratta understand that all members will have different commitments outside the Youth Reference Group, giving everyone other availabilities and times. However, we require a minimum participation level in attending the Youth Reference Group meeting once a month; you can participate in person or via Zoom.

If you cannot make it, you must inform the community engagement worker via email, Facebook group message or phone. If no effort is made to contact the community engagement worker, your commitment may be reviewed.

If you miss three meetings in a row without reason (sickness, extended holiday, etc.); your position will be forfeited to allow another young person to participate.

Members are required to attend and assist with events and projects scheduled throughout the year; arrangements can be made if members cannot attend the scheduled event, as long as it has been discussed with the community engagement worker in advance.

If you wish to opt-out/resign or take a break from the group, notification in writing (email or hard copy) to the community engagement worker is required.

Youth Reference Group members are required to be between the ages of 16-25 years old. However, if a member turns 26 and still wishes to be involved with the YRG. In that case, they can roll their membership into a volunteer contract. This will mean that their participation can continue within the group as usual, but you will forfeit the benefits of any remuneration.

Gateway Health Code of Conduct

Employees and volunteers are expected to, at all times:

Adhere to the Gateway Health Code of Conduct including the Child Safe Procedures

Maintain a high professional standard and work with integrity

Develop collaborative working relationships

Communicate with respect and tolerance

Maintain a client focus

Adopt a Continuous Improvement approach

Work within legislative and compliance framework

Gateway Health has a duty of care to all staff. The purpose of this section is to ensure that you fully understand and are able to perform the inherent requirements of the position (with reasonable adjustments if required) and that you are not placed in an environment or given tasks that would result in risks to your safety or the safety of others.

The position may require the following tasks among other things:

Manual handling (pushing, pulling, lifting, holding, carrying)
Sitting, standing, bending, reaching
Computer work, data entry
Operating equipment
Use of personal protective equipment
General waste handling
Driving motor vehicles
Dealing with anxious or upset staff, consumers or members of the public
Work at and travel to other locations will be required

As a member of the Youth Reference Group (YRG), we want to help support your well-being through a wellness plan. This plan is designed to help us understand your current situation and provide you with the necessary support. We encourage you to complete your wellness plan when you join YRG and review it regularly.
We understand that sharing personal information can be uncomfortable, but please know that the more information we have, the better we can support you. You are in charge of your well-being while attending YRG, and this plan will help activate your coping strategies while also allowing us to provide additional support if necessary. Our team at headspace Albury Wodonga and headspace Wangaratta will always be available to assist you with your well-being.
Once you have completed your plan, a member of our team may reach out to discuss it with you. Alternatively, you can initiate a conversation with us at any time. Our aim is to ensure that we are providing you with the best possible support. Rest assured that all well-being plans are confidential and will be handled in accordance with privacy and confidentiality legislation.

The undersigned acknowledges that the photos and videos taken of them may also be used for future headspace materials, including headspace.org.au, advertising, posters, brochures, publications, banners, and social media.

It is important to consider that their image may still be publicly used up to five years from now, as headspace intends to use the photographs for an extended period of time. In addition, the undersigned's image may be used to accompany information about headspace, its services, mental health issues (such as depression and anxiety), or important youth issues (such as exam stress, relationship break-ups, cyberbullying, and same-sex attraction). To familiarise themselves with the matters headspace is associated with, the undersigned is encouraged to visit headspace.org.au.

While headspace has control over the development and production of these activities, it is important to understand that once made public, headspace can no longer control where or how promotional materials are used.

By signing this form, the undersigned agrees to use their image, name, words, or story for either media or promotional marketing activities for headspace. The undersigned understands that their image, name, words, or story will be held on file at headspace for five years from the date of this form, after which it will be destroyed. The undersigned also understands the implications of involvement in this activity as described on the previous page and has discussed the implications with a representative from headspace.

The undersigned understands that they have the right to change their mind about being involved until the actual recording or production of the activity. However, once the media activity or production of the marketing activity has been recorded, they can not change their mind about participating.

The undersigned understands that participation in this activity is voluntary and that it will not impact their right to be involved with headspace even if they do not provide consent.

The undersigned also acknowledges that while headspace will try to protect their interests, once they participate, headspace has no control over what gets published or what goes to air or how the media or public use the information that they give them.

I, the undersigned, give permission for headspace to use my image, name, words or story for either media or promotional marketing activities for headspace.

There are a number of things you could take part in at your centre which can help with your own personal development:

Organising an event to engage more young people in your YRG
Fundraising alongside your fellow YRG members
Networking at headspace community engagement events
Developing your skills through headspace training opportunities

Go to headspacelearning.org.au

Steps:

- headspace network

- Create new account 

When creating your account:

Enrolment type - Volunteer

Program - Centres

Position title - Youth Ambassador 

Role Primary - Youth Reference Group Member

Role Secondary - Youth Reference Group Member

Profession/Discipline - Other

Once you've signed in, click onassigned learnign and complete the required programs:

headspace Centres Orientation and Youth Representatives Induction

Once complted click on the catelogue tab, you'll see
One the left side of the screen you'll see a list of Components and Modules. Under the heading "Roles" click on "Centre Youth Advocate".

Here you will find a list of "elearning" options, here is a selection of the recommended training:

Introduction to your local Youth Ambassador group
Introduction to youth participation
Caring for self for youth representatives
Organise an event/project for youth representatives
Craft your message for youth representatives
Communicate your message for youth representatives
Youth leadership for youth representatives

Feel free to do others that may be relevant to you/that may interest you.