The CYPFESC met on 12 April 2024. The meeting began with a patient story about the NSW Health Towards Zero Suicides Safe Havens program. The story prompted Committee discussion, including the value of the program and the importance of awareness of the service.
The Committee reflected on the topic of the previous meeting, Aboriginal child and family health, which is one of the Committee's priority areas for 2024. The Committee discussed the need for programs focused on Aboriginal families and targeted early childhood programs and has requested more information on best practice programs and approaches across the state which could be expanded or scaled.
Youth health services are specialist services that provide multidisciplinary, primary healthcare to young people. Focused on engaging disadvantaged young people, youth health programs deliver flexible and unique services to young people.
The Youth Health and Wellbeing Lead Committee is one of four committees that report to CYPFESC. Committee members include representatives from Ministry of Health branches with responsibility for youth health policies and NSW Health system stakeholders. The Committee provides oversight of NSW Health policy and programs relating to young people's health and wellbeing.
CYPFESC heard presentations on tobacco and e-cigarettes strategy, alcohol and other drugs (AOD) initiatives and mental health initiatives. The value of these programs in supporting health services for young people was acknowledged. Opportunities to drive a consistent approach to health services for young people, in particular young people with more complex health needs were discussed.
The Committee discussed the provision of outreach services for children and their families, who need to access specialised health services for regional and rural communities and hospitals. The Committee acknowledged the importance of understanding the need for care and the type of care required. The Committee agreed to explore how services are delivered across the NSW Health system, including consideration of equitable access to services across NSW.
The Measuring Progress project identified a suite of priority health issues and progress and outcome indicators for children, young people and families in NSW. These indicators were designed to be used to measure how the NSW Health system is improving health outcomes for children, young people and families in NSW. The project found that there are challenges with collection and analysis of data in the existing data landscape. The project has now concluded and the Ministry is considering the recommendations in the report, including linkage with other system data work.
Contact Sarah Morton, Director, Disability, Youth and Paediatric Health, NSW Ministry of Health at sarah.morton2@health.nsw.gov.au
