ReachOut Australia

Last month, our Youth Advocates took their social media policy recommendations to Canberra. Here’s what they’re calling for 💜 #SocialMedia #YouthMentalHealth #YouthAdvocates #ReachOutAustralia

Yesterday, the ReachOut Youth Advocates were invited to share their lived experience and perspectives on social media and reform with the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society. The advocates spoke alongside young people representing eSafety Commissioner, Australia’s independent regulator for online safety. One of ReachOut’s key priorities throughout this campaign has been ensuring that young people's voices are heard in the debate about social media bans. It is great to see this starting to happen 💜 Thank you to Committee Chair Sharon Claydon and Members Susan Templeman, Zoe Daniel and Zoe McKenzie for the opportunity and your engaging questions. To read more about the ReachOut youth advocates perspectives, check out their government submission: https://lnkd.in/gA6-bpHT

⭐ Youth Ambassador Spotlight ⭐ ReachOut Youth Ambassador, Azhaan Haq, recently returned from a trip abroad to study at Harvard. Azhaan has been a ReachOut Youth Ambassador since 2020, where he has been dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young people. His time abroad not only broadened his experiences and connected him with peers from around the world, but it also significantly shaped his sense of self. Azhaan's motivation to apply for this program stemmed from his desire for real-world experience. He is currently studying medicine at a university in Australia, and while he loves it, he is always eager to explore new interests and gain new perspectives. During his time at Harvard, he stepped outside his comfort zone by taking subjects unrelated to medicine, which reinforced his belief that he could accomplish anything he set his mind to. He gained autonomy over his time and developed a deeper understanding of his capabilities. “It helped me realise not just my limits, but how much further I can go beyond what I thought was possible,” he reflected. One challenge he faced was overcoming negative self-talk. His advice for anyone considering a similar opportunity is powerful: “Don’t be the one to say no. Let the decision-makers make that call.” Azhaan’s journey highlights the power of stepping outside one’s comfort zone. We can’t wait to see how he continues to grow and inspire others as he pursues his passions! 

We’re excited to announce the launch of Student Advocacy, a new collection of classroom resources—just in time for World Teachers' Day! Student Advocacy includes 12 curriculum-linked lesson plans, designed for teachers to help high school students develop the skills and confidence to advocate safely and effectively, supporting their own and their community’s wellbeing. From social media campaigns and community projects to responsible protesting, these lessons explore various advocacy methods with a strong focus on safety and ethical practices. We’re proud to partner with Stay Tuned to Our Planet (STTOP2030) to incorporate their video content into many of these lesson plans. STTOP is a 28-episode climate action and anxiety series designed to inspire young people to make a positive impact on the planet. Teachers can access them for free here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ghDQZ9hf For more free classroom lesson plans on topics such as resilience, mental health, friendships and more, head to ReachOut Schools here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gDZsZbz #WorldTeachersDay #MentalHealth #YouthMentalHealth #ClimateAction #ReachOutAus #STTOP2030

During our recent trip to Canberra, ReachOut’s Youth Advocates, alongside young people from Prevention United and Orygen, sat down with social media platforms to share their thoughts on online safety. Being able to share their perspectives with those who have the power to shape these platforms is not just important, it’s critical! It was an informative and productive discussion that covered young peoples’ experiences on platforms, the new safety features they’d like to see and how we all might work together to better highlight the safety features that already exist. So far, the voices of young people have largely been overlooked in the social media debate. We will continue giving young people a platform to share their lived experience, policy recommendations and ideas for safety tools with the companies and decision-makers who can make a real difference and deliver what we all want - safer environments for young people online. #SocialMedia #YouthMentalHealth

Year 12 exams kicked off for many young people across Australia this week. We asked five young people what advice they’d offer others trying to manage study stress 💬 #MentalHealthTips #Study #Exams #YouthMentalHealth

We're proud to partner with brands like Audi Australia, who support our work connecting young people, parents, carers and schools with the information, community and support they need to navigate tough times. 💜 Every year, the Audi Foundation hosts a prize draw to raise funds for their amazing charity partners, and we're excited to be one of them!! The final prize draw of the year is now open and will run until 30 October. For more information and to enter head here Audi Foundation prize draw: https://lnkd.in/gbi3qXZ 🔗

It’s been a whirlwind week in Canberra, connecting with organisations and policy makers who are just as passionate about improving mental health outcomes for young people as we are 💜 The ReachOut team and our awesome Youth Advocates have been sharing our expertise and advocating on behalf of young people. We kicked off the week launching our new research report into young people and social media and today we’re at Mental Health Australia’s Expo sharing more about ReachOut’s services. Check out the report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/grakTiSQ

We’re here in Canberra today launching our new report, looking at young people’s use of social media. 💜 73% of young people in Australia turn to social media for mental health support. 💜 40% sought professional help after viewing mental health information on social. The research is also clear about harms of social media that must be addressed, including: 💜 38% were deeply concerned about harmful mental health content they have come across on platforms.  💜 43% of the young people who sought support online were deeply concerned about the addictive nature of these platforms. During our launch event, we hosted an important conversation featuring Carolyn Nikoloski, CEO of Mental Health Australia; Rachel Lord, Senior Manager - Government Relations at YouTube; and Sina, ReachOut Youth Advocate. The discussion explored key findings from the report and addressed the complexities of the current social media debate. Our Youth Advocates, alongside youth representatives from Orygen and Prevention United then met with MPs, Senators and their teams to explore the new research, discuss their perspectives on social media and other key topic areas and share their lived experiences. The report and our conversation today stress the need to hold social media platforms accountable and to co-design reform with young people. To read the full report, head here 👉 https://lnkd.in/grakTiSQ

We are so excited to announce the launch of our Be Bold, ReachOut campaign in collaboration with Doritos. We’re now in our third year of our partnership with Doritos. Together, we have increased awareness of youth mental health and encouraged young people in Australia to check in with themselves and each other 💜 Doritos chip packets feature a QR Code connecting people to support options offered by ReachOut! And we’re pleased to share that this QR Code will be featured on the packets PERMANENTLY! Thank you, Doritos for continuing to support and promote our work! #YouthMentalHealth #DoritosAustralia PepsiCo