Young people's health

Young people are uniquely impacted by global challenges yet are often excluded from research, health programs and policy.

We work in partnership with young people from diverse communities in Australia and across Asia and the Pacific. Our aim is to better understand their health needs and co-design innovative solutions.

In Australia, we developed The Gist, a program designed to help young people navigate sex and relationships.

In Myanmar, we co-designed with young people the Healthy Minds Healthy Futures project, a model for addressing mental health and psychosocial well-being. The next phase will focus on sexual and reproductive health.

In Indonesia, Myanmar and Papua New Guinea, we’re co-designing new solutions and models of health services delivery. These will tackle unintended pregnancy and other sexual and reproductive health needs. 

For 20 years, Burnet has run the Sex, Drugs and Rock ’n’ Roll study, collecting critical data on young people's health.

The study gives young people a space to share their thoughts on current and emerging health issues affecting their wellbeing.

The study has had a lasting impact, informing policies on sexting, social media and other emerging issues.

It has opened direct channels to policymakers. Regarding access to online pornography, for example, we met with the E-Safety Commissioner about the potential for introducing age verification.

Data from the study has been used to evaluate health policies and health promotion campaigns. We track such initiatives to see if they've had noticeable effects among young people or if young people can even recall them. 

We’re working to develop a platform for young people to co-lead and co-design health programs.

Driving innovation, this approach gives young people access to responsive, tailored information and services.