A campaign launched this week will put the spotlight on youth drug, alcohol and wellbeing issues in the Macarthur region and beyond.
The innovative campaign was launched by Youth Solutions over the weekend, in partnership with Campbelltown Catholic Club, targeting the next generation of health, youth and community service professionals, alongside the general community, to help young people receive better care and support for drug, alcohol and wellbeing issues.
The campaign runs alongside Youth Solutions’ Health Pro+ project, a venture supported and funded by Campbelltown Catholic Club, which provides skill and knowledge-building workshops and training to tertiary education students studying in medical, health, youth and community service fields.
Like Turn on the Light, Health Pro+ also aims help young people get better care and support for young people and the community around drug, alcohol and wellbeing issues, by building the knowledge, skills, understanding and connections to support for these emerging professionals.
For the next two months, the campaign will aim to “turn on the light’’, by providing practical tips for young people and emerging healthcare and community service professionals alike.
The campaign focus areas include prioritising self-care, reflective practice and debriefing; effectively supporting others with drug, alcohol and wellbeing issues; understanding referral pathways; challenging stigma and reducing barriers to help-seeking; and responding to emergency situations.
Youth Solutions CEO Geraldine Dean (pictured above at the launch with members of the team) welcomed the the Turn on the Light campaign as positive not just for aspiring medical and community service professionals, but also for young people and the broader community.
“This campaign complements our long-standing Health Pro+ project, where participants work to increase their knowledge of drug, alcohol and wellbeing issues and how to support people experiencing these, in both their personal and professional lives,” Mrs Dean said.
“We’re excited that Turn on the Light develops this concept even further and provides youth-centric information, support and strategies to be able to deal with and support those experiencing drug, alcohol or wellbeing issues.
“I’d encourage the community as a whole to really take a look at this campaign and its support guide and think about how you can help change the future of support for young people.”
Mrs Dean thanked Campbelltown Catholic Club, a long-standing Youth Solutions major corporate partner, for continuing its support of the Health Pro+ project and this year’s Turn on the Light campaign.
“Youth Solutions is only effective if we take a community approach. We work with the community for the community. That’s why partners such as Campbelltown Catholic Club are integral to our work – and our success,’’ she said.
“We can’t thank Campbelltown Catholic Club enough for sharing our passion for community and for its support and commitment to supporting young people via these important initiatives,” Mrs Dean said.
Campbelltown Catholic Club chief executive officer Michael Lavorato said the Turn on the Light campaign and Health Pro+ project were positive and practical extension of the club’s own vision.
“We see our community as an extended family, there to provide support in good times and bad,’’ he said.
“That’s the club’s vision – we want to help change the community for good and our partnership with Youth Solutions is a big part of that,” Mr Lavorato said.
“If we can support Youth Solutions and their programs and campaigns for the betterment of young people and the wider community, then we are positively living out our vision and achieving real impact.”
Across the next two months, young people and the community are encouraged to engage with the Turn on the Light campaign on Instagram and TikTok or check out the campaign guide, tips and activities at youthsolutions.com.au/turn-on-the-light.
Youth Solutions will also take the campaign out to students and young people, with outreach activities running across local TAFEs and universities.
