We have a fantastic group of young people that make up our
Youth Advisory Group (YAG).
The reason why the YAG exists, is because here at
headspace Southern Downs we value the input of
young people in the daily runnings of our site and services, and
community awareness activities.
We're always asking their opinions on everything, like what they
think about how our service looks, the promotional materials we
have, or what we can do for upcoming events that they want our
service to be a part of. It's safe to say that almost everything
our service has ever done, has been run past the YAG for their
input at one time or another.
For your information, click
here to see the YAG Terms of Reference.
The members of the YAG are a mix males and females, aged between
12 and 25 years of age. We invite any other young people who would
like to be a part of our group to express their interest.
Click here to access our YAG expression of
interest.
Their opinions
We also decided recently, that seeing as we can't tell you
exactly what they think of headspace, that maybe
our YAG members could tell you what they think is good about our
service and why they decided that they wanted to be a part of the
YAG. See their comments below:
Sally, 16
I really had no idea about headspace, until my
friend Ash dragged me along to become a YAG. Ever since then, I've
loved being involved with headspace because it's
so much fun, it's a big part of helping our community and a huge
part of some kids lives, and hey - I get free pizza at meetings...
I feel like we're now becoming a bigger part of the events that
happen in our community and making a difference in our community.
Becoming a YAG has been one of the best decisions I've ever
made.
Nick, 17
I was traipsing through Facebook one day, when I received an
'inbox' from a girl I went to school with. I had heard about
the headspace Youth Advisory Group before and
it sounded like a good, fun, youth community oriented thing to be
involved with. So I went and got a form and walked down to
headspace Southern Downs, had a chat, and there I
was, a member of YAG. headspace is a really
great place and everyone is really friendly and cool.
Bryce, 17
The day that I found out about headspace and
YAG, was when I got an inbox from my friend Bec. She was telling me
that I had to get down to headspace and talk to
Krysten about YAG. So Nick and I turned up one day and spoke to
Krysten. She told us all about how at headspace,
they value the opinion of young people and want their input on all
the things that headspace does. Basically, I turn
up to help... and stuff. Legit.
Bec, 16
Ash re-assured me that if I turned up, I'd get free juice and we
would talk about rainbows and happy stuff. No really, that was just
the design of one of our feature walls. After I started coming to a
couple of meetings, I realised that it was more than rainbows and
happy stuff, and I developed a passion for working with youth and
the community. Thanks to headspace, they showed me
all the things that I could be involved in, that not only I enjoy
but will help me later on in life. I would recommend to anyone that
they join YAG - it's worth their while.
Ashlee, 16
I decided to become a YAG after my friend Jarred told me about
it, and all the stuff that the YAG does at
headspace. I then attended a meeting and decided
that Krysten (who runs the YAG) was the bomb diggity and I needed
to remain a YAG from that point thereafter. I love being a YAG and
all the stuff that I've been able to do both in and out of the
community. Our meetings are always a blast!
Caitlin, 17
All my friends were doing it and I wanted to see what YAG was
about, and then I decided that it was a good way to contribute to
the community. I really enjoy everything with YAG and helping out
with the different events that headspace puts on
for the community. It's cool that they like listening to what we
have to say, and that they take our opinions on board, no matter
what it is.
Olivia, 17
I found out about YAG through my friend Ash who said it was a
good way to become involved in the community. At the time, I was
interested in being a Social Worker (though I want to be a
Paramedic now instead), and so I found the health side of
headspace interesting to see how a young people's
health service works and to help promote it within our community. I
enjoy being involved in the community events that
headspace is always a part of, and having an input
into the way the service works.
Our opinion on their opinions
This is why we're so proud to have the YAG members that we do.
They do a lot for us, and we find it very humbling that
they're passionate about what we do too. We're glad that
they know the difference that they make to our service, as they
keep us on track with what young people in our community want in a
youth health service.