Children and young people’s health
Supporting children and young people to be healthy and thrive
Every child and young person deserves the opportunity to grow, develop and thrive.
Healthy North Coast works with health services, communities, families and young people to improve health and wellbeing from the earliest years through to young adulthood.
Our work focuses on understanding local health needs, improving access to care, supporting prevention and early intervention, and strengthening the services children, young people and families rely on across the North Coast.
Children and young people’s health on the North Coast
The experiences we have early in life can have a lasting influence on our health and wellbeing.
Most children and young people across the North Coast are healthy and doing well. However, our local health data shows that some children, young people and families experience greater barriers to accessing health care and support.
Where a person lives, their family circumstances, culture, income and access to services can all influence their health.
Healthy North Coast uses local health data and the experiences of children, young people, families, communities and health professionals to identify where additional support and investment are needed.
Our priorities include:
- healthy development in the early years
- prevention and early intervention
- childhood immunisation
- mental health and social and emotional wellbeing
- access to appropriate primary health care
- support for children and young people with chronic health conditions
- improving access and coordination of care for neurodivergent children and young people
- alcohol and other drug prevention, early intervention and treatment
- culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families
- supporting resilience and recovery following disasters and other significant events.
Featured programs and initiatives
Good mental health is an important part of growing up, learning, building relationships and participating in community life.
Healthy North Coast commissions and supports mental health services for children and young people across the North Coast, including headspace services for young people aged 12 to 25.
headspace provides support across mental health and wellbeing, physical and sexual health, alcohol and other drugs, and work and study.
Services are available across a number of locations in our region, with online and telephone support also available.
Find mental health support for young people
Resilient Kids
Children and young people can be particularly affected by disasters and major changes within their communities.
The Resilient Kids program was established following the 2022 floods to support the mental health, wellbeing and resilience of children and young people across the Northern Rivers.
The program has supported community-led initiatives designed around the experiences and needs of children, young people, families and communities.
The learnings from this work are also helping build our understanding of how communities can better support children and young people before, during and after disasters.
Childhood immunisation
Vaccination is an important way to protect children from serious preventable illnesses and help protect the wider community.
Childhood immunisation remains an important health priority for the North Coast, with local vaccination rates below state and national levels.
Healthy North Coast works with general practices, Aboriginal Medical Services and other immunisation providers to strengthen vaccination services, improve access and support families to make informed decisions about vaccination.
Improving youth mental health care
Healthy North Coast works with young people, researchers, health services and communities to better understand what young people need from the mental health system.
The Right care, first time, where you live initiative (link to page – to be created*) uses local data and community experiences to understand how youth mental health services can be better planned and coordinated.
This work is helping identify gaps in the system and opportunities to make it easier for young people to receive appropriate support when and where they need it.
Find health and support services
Knowing where to go for help can sometimes be difficult.
Depending on the child or young person’s needs, support may be available through a GP, Aboriginal Medical Service, community health service, child and family health service, mental health service or another local provider.
Mental health support
Find mental health services and support available for children, young people and families across the North Coast.
Mental Health Directory
Search for mental health practitioners and services available across the North Coast.
Search the Mental Health Directory
Find community support
Find services and programs supporting health and wellbeing in your community.
Healthy development and prevention
Supporting health early in life can have benefits that continue into adulthood.
Regular health checks and preventive care can help identify health and developmental concerns early and connect children and families with appropriate support.
Depending on their age and individual needs, this can include:
- childhood health and developmental checks
- immunisation
- healthy eating and physical activity
- mental health and emotional wellbeing
- developmental and behavioural concerns
- alcohol, smoking, vaping and other drug prevention
- management of asthma and other chronic conditions.
A GP, Aboriginal Medical Service, child and family health service or other health professional can help families understand what care is appropriate.
Understanding the health of children and young people in our region
Healthy North Coast’s Health Needs Assessment identifies children and young people as an important priority for our region.
Our research shows that health needs and access to services are not experienced equally.
Children and young people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, living with chronic conditions or who are neurodivergent can experience significant barriers to accessing appropriate health services.
There are also differences between communities in areas including early childhood development, immunisation and access to mental health services.
Understanding these differences helps Healthy North Coast work with communities and partners to target investment where it is most needed.
Children and Younger Persons Needs Assessment
Healthy North Coast has undertaken a dedicated assessment of the health and wellbeing of children and young people from conception to 24 years of age.
The assessment looks across four stages of development – early childhood, the middle years, adolescence and young adulthood – to understand local strengths, challenges, service gaps and opportunities for improvement.
The findings highlight the importance of prevention and early intervention, better coordination between services, culturally safe care and place-based approaches that respond to the needs of individual communities.
These findings will help inform future planning, commissioning and investment in children, young people and family health across the North Coast.
