Making meaningful change for young people’s mental health

We hear a lot about youth mental health. 

Rightfully so – one in five (22%) of Australians experienced a mental health disorder in the last 12 months. The peak age of onset for mental ill-health is at 15 years, and the top three leading causes of disease burden in young people are related to their mental health.  

Young people’s voices are essential in shaping a better future – especially as they navigate an increasingly complex world. Yet, many young people tell us they feel left out of conversations and decisions that affect them most.   

At the Matilda Centre, we are committed to changing that. We champion youth voices through partnerships with young people to ensure they have meaningful roles in shaping mental health and substance use research and policy.  

As Program Lead for the PREMISE Next Generation NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence, Kate Ross works directly with young people through our Youth Advisory Board and Youth Engagement Network, helping to drive real change through youth-led initiatives.

Learn more about her journey to the Matilda Centre, what she finds rewarding about working with young people, and her advice for others looking to do the same.  

My undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New South Wales was driven by a passion for understanding how local and global systems interact to shape health and people’s lives. It solidified my belief that rights-based and strengths-based approaches are essential to developing meaningful solutions to the issues that affect communities. 

Before joining the Matilda Centre, I worked at the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM), a professional society supporting the HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexual health workforce. Founded as a self-help and education network during the HIV epidemic, ASHM continues to lead efforts to reduce stigma and improve prevention, treatment, and care for people at risk of or living with HIV and other blood-borne viruses—both in Australia and globally.  

It was there that I developed a strong passion for health policy, prevention, and community–research engagement. So, when the opportunity arose to work with the Positive Choices and Cracks in the Ice teams, I jumped in headfirst. 

The Matilda Centre is a vibrant and supportive place to work. The leadership team encourages us to dream big and to pursue projects that we are deeply passionate about.

It is incredibly rewarding to be in a role that brings together the energy and insight of young people, the expertise of those with lived or living experience of mental illness or substance use, and world-leading research to influence policy and drive progress toward a healthier future for all.  

By amplifying these important voices, I hope to play a small part in working towards inclusive and innovative solutions to the complex challenges facing youth mental health. 

This is a question we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about at the Matilda Centre. Our Youth Advisory Board has co-designed a range of practical, youth-led resources to help researchers and mental health professionals engage young people in meaningful and respectful ways. 

I encourage you to check them out and hear directly from young people about what works when it comes to collaboration in this space. 

Want to learn more about the Matilda Centre’s work with young people? Check out our work on PREMISE Next Generation and engaging with Lived Experience.