Wellbeing of Young People Is a Critical Long Term Investment for our Community

On Friday 4 October 2013 leaders from the education, university, justice and community health sectors will meet to discuss the need for a community wide focus on improving the psychological health of young people in our community.

The Discussion Forum sponsored by the Richmond Fellowship of Tasmania will highlight the need for a more committed approach to working across these sectors in the interests of supporting the wellbeing of young people.

The event will feature the Acting Commissioner for Children, Elizabeth Daly, and will include experts and specialists in the diversity of fields that support young people in our communities.

Forum convenor, Mollie Camplbell Smith is a well known expert in this field having worked in the education and psychological health sectors for over 60 years.

“There are worrisome indicators on the horizon where we are seeing the presentation of people needed psychological support at younger and younger ages.”

“Our traditional approach has been to use the health system as the primary solution.”

‘In the long term a greater focus on prevention through increasing support for parenting, resilience development and psychological support in schools and the community could prove to be just as effective.”

“My goal is to a shine a light on the need for young people to have the support at family, education and community level so that we can make their wellbeing a clear objective for our community and our governments”, she said.

“This is our future as a community, as a state and as a nation. We need the positive focus and energy of young people influencing the way we think about our future.”

“This forum provides that focus and the need for a broader perspective if we are going to do the best we can for these future leaders,’ she said.

The Discussion Forum is open to the public and will take place from 9.00am to 3.30pm on Friday 4 October 2013 at the Punchbowl Christian Centre in Launceston.

Registrations can be made by contacting the Richmond Fellowship Tasmania on 62283344 or by emailing on admin@rftas.org.au.

The Forum’s key note speaker will be the Acting Childrens Commissioner, Elizabeth Daly.

Other speakers from across the education, justice, public and community health sectors will also contribute their perspective and ideas to this important event.

Download:
131033_RFT_A4_Flyer.pdf
Danny Sutton Chief Executive Richmond Fellowship Tasmania