RIGHT CARE, FIRST TIME, WHERE YOU LIVE PROGRAM
Systems Dynamic Modelling, Project
The Right care, first time, where you live program aims to develop regionally specific decision-support tools to guide investments into youth mental health and social and emotional wellbeing.
How can I join?
Introduction
The University of Sydney (Brain and Mind Centre) is leading a program called – Right care, first time, where you live, to improve mental health care for young people across Australia.
The program will build a model that can help support people making decisions about mental health services, to have a better understanding of what works and what does not work for young people in the North Coast, and what could be done to address any gaps.
Across Australia, eight regions have been selected to develop locally relevant models that are informed by local data and the experiences of young people and people working to support young people.
In the North Coast Region, the Right care, first time where you live program aims to support changes in mental health systems, policy and practice to support youth mental health and social and emotional wellbeing. This initiative ensures that young people receive the appropriate care at the right time, tailored to their unique needs and circumstances, fostering a supporting environment for their growth and wellbeing.
The implementation of the program will consist of 3 workshops, held in Coffs Harbour throughout 2025 to:
- map out the current state of the youth mental health environment in our region (including sharing experience to provide further context to available data and identifying gaps)
- design a youth mental health system that will work in our region
- review and test the initial model
*You can still apply even if you are unable to attend every meeting and workshopÂ
I am a young person (16-25)
If you are 16-25 years old, have a lived experience of mental health, live in the North Coast of NSW and want to help shape the way mental health programs are funded, this is the spot for you!
What you will get out of being involved:
- Have a say and advocate for positive changes for young people accessing mental health services. This could help support the mental health of young people across the North Coast and potentially all Australia
- Your time and contributions will be recognised. All young people who participate will receive $50 per hour at each meeting and support with transport and accommodation to attend workshops.
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- You will learn new skills in advocacy, co-design and service modelling and have fun while learning!
- Opportunity to be part of a network of young people, both in the North Coast an across Australia
- You will get the opportunity to share your experience and influence positive change in your community.
- Have your voice be heard! Be in the room with policy makers, health and community service providers and funding organisations – all making decisions together
What's involved?
Young people will meet, get to know each other and talk about what is involved in the project.
• A full day workshop will bring together young people and people working with young people to learn about systems modelling, align a shared purpose and identify what is working and what is not working
• Together we will map out the youth mental health system in the North Coast and work out what changes we would like to test in the systems model.
- Following workshop 1, the University of Sydney will build the model based on local data and your experiences, alongside people who are working with young people. Â
- In workshop 2 the University of Sydney will present this and we will collaborate and co-design a system with you that would work for youth mental health services in the North CoastÂ
- We will all meet together again to review what the final model looks like, learn about some of the initial insights and how it can be used to improve mental health outcomes for young people in the North CoastÂ
*You can still apply even if you are unable to attend every meeting and workshop.
What is Systems modelling?
Systems modelling is a method to create a simplified version of a complex system to understand how its processes interact. By using data and lived experience, we can forecast the system’s behaviour and explore ways to improve it.
For this program, the ‘system’ is the mixture of services and supports available to young people to support their mental health and wellbeing.
I work in a field that supports young people
If you work in a field that supports young people and would like to be part of developing a tool that supports investment into youth mental health, then please register via the link below.
What’s involved:
• A full day workshop will bring together young people and people working with young people to learn about systems modelling, align a shared purpose and identify what is working and what is not working
• Together we will map out the youth mental health system in the North Coast and work out what changes we would like to test in the systems model.
- Â Following workshop 1, the University of Sydney will build the model based on local data and lived experienced, alongside people who are working with young people.
- Â In workshop 2 the University of Sydney will present this and we will collaborate and co-design a system with you that would work for youth mental health services in the North Coast
- We will all meet together again to review what the final model looks like, learn about some of the initial insights and how it can be used to improve mental health outcomes for young people in the North Coast
Get in quick as spots are limited!
We can support travel and accommodation – pending participant location and Healthy North Coast agreement.
If you have any questions, please email Sophie at [email protected]
What is Systems modelling?
Systems modelling is a method to create a simplified version of a complex system to understand how its processes interact. By using data and lived experience, we can forecast the system’s behaviour and explore ways to improve it.
For this program, the ‘system’ is the mixture of services and supports available to young people to support their mental health and wellbeing.
Get in quick as spots are limited!
