A federal parliamentary inquiry has made 30 recommendations to reduce alcohol and drug harm in Australia. Several could shape how young people learn about alcohol and drugs, stay safer and find support.

On 14 September 2026, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability released its final report into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia. Committee Chair Dr Mike Freelander said the cost of addiction is measured in the tens of billions of dollars.

The report sets out a roadmap for alcohol and drug policy reform.

Starting early with drug education in schools

The Committee recommends mandatory alcohol and drug education programs in secondary schools. Recent AIHW treatment data shows adolescence is often when alcohol and drug use first surfaces. Evidence-based education can help young people make informed choices before problems take hold.

Staying safer in a changing drug market

A national early warning system for illicit drugs could help young people avoid dangerous substances. The Committee also recommends greater access to the Take Home Naloxone Program, which provides a medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose.

Reducing young people’s exposure to alcohol

The report calls for a mandatory alcohol advertising and marketing framework, along with national standards for online alcohol sales and delivery. These could reduce young people’s exposure to alcohol marketing and strengthen safeguards around online sales.

A stronger workforce and fairer access to care

Other recommendations include:

Why these recommendations matter for young people

We welcome the report’s focus on prevention, early intervention and fairer access to care. Together, these recommendations reflect what young people need: youth-specific care that supports education, family, housing and mental health alongside alcohol and drug use, and continues after formal treatment ends.

This is the model behind the programs we fund. Triple Care Farm, owned and operated by Mission Australia, supports young people aged 16 to 24 through residential withdrawal, rehabilitation and aftercare. Youth Network, also delivered by Mission Australia, continues that support as young people return to community life. Families looking for help can start with our guide to finding the right youth drug support program.

Your gift can support programs like Triple Care Farm, so more young people can access the right care at the right time. Donate today or learn more about the programs we fund.

Sources

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability (2026). A Roadmap for Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy Reform in Australia [media release]. Canberra: Parliament of Australia.

A young person does not need to be in crisis before their mental health deserves attention. Sometimes support starts with having someone listen. At other times, it may mean professional care, practical help or having somewhere safe to talk.

This Mental Health month, it is worth recognising that youth mental health support can take many forms. Making appropriate help easier to find can give young people more opportunities to be heard and stay connected to the parts of life that matter to them.

Why Youth Mental Health Support Matters

Youth mental health support can help young people access appropriate care, build supportive relationships and stay connected with education, work and their communities. The right support will vary for each young person and may include trusted adults, professional services, community programs or practical support.

Young people aged 12 to 24 may be studying, starting work, developing relationships, becoming more independent or thinking about their future.

These experiences do not automatically cause mental health challenges. They do show why mental health should be considered alongside the other parts of a young person’s life.

What Can Youth Mental Health Support Look Like?

youth mental health support


There is no single form of support that suits every young person.

For some, talking to a parent, friend, teacher or another trusted adult may help. Others may choose to speak with a GP, psychologist, counsellor or youth worker. Schools, community organisations and specialist youth services can also play a role.

Not every young person will need professional treatment. What is appropriate depends on their circumstances, preferences and needs.

Listening Can Make A Difference

It can be difficult to know what to say when a young person talks about their mental health. Listening is a useful place to begin.

A trusted person can listen without judgement, take concerns seriously and ask what the young person needs. They can respect their perspective and encourage appropriate professional help where needed.

Speaking up is not always easy. A young person may worry about being judged, misunderstood or treated differently. Concerns about privacy and how others might respond can also affect their willingness to talk.

There can be practical barriers too. Cost, waiting times and the availability of services may affect access to care. Some young people may also be unsure where to go, what services are available or which type of support might be appropriate.

Listening does not mean having all the answers. It means giving a young person space to talk without immediately dismissing their concerns or making decisions for them.

Early Support Can Help

Recognising concerns and connecting with appropriate help early can provide an opportunity to address what a young person is experiencing before difficulties become more complex.

Early support does not guarantee a particular outcome. It may make it easier for a young person to understand their options, access appropriate care and stay connected with people they trust.

Young people should also have a voice in decisions about their wellbeing. What feels accessible or useful to one person may not feel the same to another.

Connection Is Part Of The Bigger Picture

Mental wellbeing does not exist separately from the rest of life.

Young people’s wellbeing can be influenced by their relationships, circumstances, community connections and access to appropriate support. Education, employment, housing and opportunities to participate can also form part of the wider picture.

A young person experiencing mental health challenges may also be a student, employee, friend, sibling, artist, athlete or volunteer. Their strengths, interests and goals still matter.

Martin Youth Foundation funds programs that support young people experiencing complex challenges and create opportunities for positive change.

One example is Youth Network, a structured aftercare program delivered by Mission Australia and funded by the Foundation.

Current Youth Network outcomes show that over half of young people experienced improved mental health outcomes.

Finding Reliable Mental Health Resources

Knowing where to look for reliable information can make the next step clearer.

The Foundation’s current youth mental health resources bring together established information and services for young people, families and carers. The mental health section includes headspace, Beyond Blue, ReachOut and SANE.

The page also includes urgent support options for people who need immediate help.

Looking for reliable information about youth mental health and wellbeing? The Foundation’s resources can help young people, families and communities find established services and further information.

Young People Should Have A Voice

Conversations about youth mental health should include young people themselves.

Their perspectives can help families, professionals and organisations understand what makes support accessible, what barriers they experience and what helps them feel heard.

This does not mean expecting young people to share personal experiences publicly. Privacy and choice matter.

It means listening when they do speak and respecting their involvement in decisions about their health, wellbeing and future.

Reducing Stigma Around Mental Health

Reducing Stigma Around Mental Health

Language and attitudes can influence how comfortable a young person feels discussing mental health.

Labels and assumptions can reduce someone to a challenge they are experiencing. Respectful conversations leave room for their strengths, relationships, interests and goals.

Listening without judgement, respecting privacy and sharing reliable information can help create a more supportive environment.

Asking for help should not be treated as weakness. Speaking about something difficult can require courage, particularly when someone is unsure how others will respond.

What World Mental Health Day Can Remind Us

World Mental Health Day is observed on the 10th of October each year. It provides an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health and encourage conversations about access to appropriate care.

The theme for World Mental Health Day 2026 is “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change.” It focuses attention on the value of lived experience and meaningful involvement in the services and decisions that affect people’s lives.

That idea is particularly relevant when discussing young people. Their perspectives can help us understand what makes support useful, what gets in the way and where change may be needed.

World Mental Health Day can be a prompt to listen more closely and make reliable support easier to find. It can also remind us to recognise young people’s strengths and potential alongside the challenges they may experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is World Mental Health Day?

World Mental Health Day is observed internationally on 10 October. It provides an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage conversations about mental health and access to appropriate care.

Why is youth mental health support important?

Appropriate support can give young people opportunities to discuss what they are experiencing, access care where needed and maintain important relationships and connections.

How can I support a young person experiencing mental health challenges?

Start by listening and taking their concerns seriously. Respect their perspective and help them explore appropriate professional care or reliable resources where needed.

Where can young people find mental health support?

The Foundation’s Useful Resources page includes trusted services such as headspace, Beyond Blue, ReachOut and SANE. It also provides urgent support options.

Does every young person need the same type of mental health support?

No. Appropriate support depends on the young person’s circumstances, preferences and needs. It may involve trusted people, professional services, community organisations or different forms of help over time.

Making Support Easier To Find

World Mental Health Day gives us a reason to talk about mental health, but listening and connection matter throughout the year.

Young people should be able to talk about their wellbeing without being defined by the challenges they experience. Listening, respecting their perspective and making reliable information easier to find can help create more supportive environments.

Explore the Foundation’s youth mental health support resources for trusted information, services and further support options.

 

Martin Youth Foundation Media Release, 1 September 2026

Thirty-six years after former NSW Governor Rear Admiral Sir David Martin established a foundation to help vulnerable young Australians, the organisation bearing his name is entering a new chapter.

From 1 September 2026, Sir David Martin Foundation will become Martin Youth Foundation, a change designed to better reflect the young people at the heart of its mission while honouring the family legacy that has guided it since 1990.

Sir David Martin, the 34th Governor of New South Wales, resigned from office after being diagnosed with mesothelioma and spent his final days helping establish a foundation dedicated to supporting young people experiencing disadvantage and crisis. He died on 10 August 1990, just days after setting that vision in motion.

Today, the Foundation has raised more than $80 million to support youth-focused drug and alcohol treatment, helping nearly 4,000 young people access life-changing care and recovery services through its longstanding partnership with Mission Australia.

The organisation remains the same legal entity, governed by the same Board and leadership team, with the same mission: to help young people in crisis by enabling best practice models of treatment for youth drug and alcohol addiction.

The rebrand was developed with the endorsement of the Martin family, and Sir David’s own handwriting has been incorporated into the new logo.

Will Martin, Board Chair and son of Sir David Martin, said the change reflected a commitment to ensuring the Foundation’s impact continues for generations to come.
“My father set this Foundation in motion with a simple belief: every young Australian deserves safety, hope and opportunity. That belief has never wavered.”
“This is not a step away from our origins. It’s a step towards ensuring they endure. What has changed is our name. What hasn’t is our purpose.”

Anna Beaumont, Board member and Sir David’s daughter, said the new name would help more young people and families connect with support.
“Seeing Dad’s handwriting in our new logo means everything. It’s a small thing, but it means he’s still part of every conversation we have about where we’re headed.”
“The new name speaks clearly about who we are, what we do and who we serve. That means more young people and families can find help when they need it most.”

Lady Martin, who co-founded the Foundation following her husband’s death and served on the Board for more than three decades, said the change was one Sir David would have welcomed.
“Of course he would support it. He would go along with the times.”
“He would be very proud of what the Foundation is today and think this is a natural step. It’s continuing to help young people, which is exactly what it was meant to do.”

Chief Executive Officer Karen Elliff said the new name would strengthen the Foundation’s ability to reach young people, families and supporters.
“Nothing about the work itself is changing. The programs we fund, the partnerships we hold and the young people we exist for remain exactly the same.”
“What a clearer name gives us is greater reach and understanding. Ultimately, that means more support for the youth-specific treatment and recovery services that young people desperately need.”

For more than three decades, Martin Youth Foundation has funded Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm and more recently the Youth Network aftercare program, supporting young people experiencing substance dependence to access evidence-based treatment and recovery support.

Demand for youth-specific alcohol and drug treatment continues to outstrip available services across Australia, making continued investment in early intervention, treatment and recovery more important than ever.

About Martin Youth Foundation

Martin Youth Foundation, formerly Sir David Martin Foundation, is an Australian charity dedicated to empowering young people to change their lives. Established in 1990 in honour of Sir David Martin, the 34th Governor of New South Wales, the Foundation has raised more than $80 million to fund youth-specific drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services. The Martin family remains actively involved in leading the Foundation today.

Media contact

Jennifer Rutkowski, Fundraising and Marketing Manager, Martin Youth Foundation

[email protected]  |  +61 2 9538 0914

 

What the UN’s World Youth Report means for young Australians facing addiction

A new global report confirms what we see every day: mental health and substance use are deeply connected, and young people need support that addresses both.

Three out of four adult mental health conditions first appear before the age of 24. For many young people, that window is also when substance use begins, often as a way to cope with the very distress that hasn’t yet been recognised or treated.

This is one of the central findings of the United Nations’ World Youth Report: Youth Mental Health and Well-being, launched in February 2026. While the UN formally defines “youth” as those aged 15 to 24, the report’s survey and consultations drew on the experiences of young people aged 15 to 29, with the 20 to 24 age group making up the largest cohort. Across nearly 3,000 respondents from 137 countries, it’s the most comprehensive global snapshot of youth mental health in years and its findings speak directly to our work at Sir David Martin Foundation.

A global picture that mirrors what we see locally

The report found that 43 per cent of young people rated their general mental health as “poor” or “fair.” Close to 40 per cent reported that a family member had difficulty managing emotions, lived with a mental health disorder, or used alcohol or drugs. These aren’t distant statistics – they reflect the experiences of many of the young Australians who come through the programs we fund.

When asked what stopped them seeking help, young people’s most common answers were a lack of trust in other people, fear of not being taken seriously, and the worry of being a burden. Stigma, shame, and not knowing where to turn featured strongly and are barriers that the young people we support work to overcome every day.

“Everybody has mental health; you have to learn how to take care of it.”

— Young person, UN World Youth Report focus group

Substance use and mental health: why they can’t be treated in isolation

Globally, alcohol and other drug use ranks among the top 10 causes of disability for young people aged 10 to 24. The WHO reports that 22 per cent of 15 to 19-year-olds worldwide were using alcohol in 2019, and cannabis use among adolescents exceeded adult rates.

The report highlights that adolescence is a period of brain development second only to infancy. Young people are especially sensitive to social cues, peer acceptance, and emotional pressures which makes them more vulnerable to substances, and more likely to use them as a coping strategy when distressed.

This cycle is something we understand deeply. Many young people arriving at Triple Care Farm are dealing with both substance use and underlying mental health challenges. They may have started drinking or using drugs to manage anxiety, depression, or trauma – only to find their mental health worsening over time. Effective treatment needs to address both, and that’s exactly what the youth-specific programs we fund are designed to do.

What the data tells us about young Australians

Australia featured directly in the report through an interview with a 19-year-old Indigenous young man with out-of-home care experience, whose story illustrated how cultural disconnection, systemic disadvantage, and mental health challenges compound one another.

The report’s survey found that 51 per cent of respondents from the Australia and New Zealand subregion had wanted to talk to someone about their mental health but didn’t know where to turn. That’s more than half of young people feeling unable to access the help they need.

Domestic data reinforces the urgency. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare:

Why this matters for the work we do

The World Youth Report calls for a fundamental shift in how we approach youth mental health. It argues that treatment alone isn’t enough—we need to address the social conditions that shape young people’s wellbeing: their education, their family environments, their financial stability, their experiences online, and the communities around them.

This is the approach that has guided our Foundation for 35 years. Through our funding of Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm, we support young people aged 16-24 through a holistic recovery journey that addresses substance use alongside the underlying factors that contributed to it – trauma, mental health conditions, disconnection from education and employment, and fractured family relationships. And through our Youth Network initiative, we’ve expanded Aftercare support to young people leaving residential treatment, funding dedicated Aftercare Workers across four Mission Australia sites in Robertson, Batemans Bay, Dubbo and Perth – because recovery doesn’t end when a young person walks out the door.

The report also emphasises that young people must be active participants in the solutions that affect their lives, not passive recipients of care. When young people have genuine agency in their recovery, they’re more likely to engage with treatment, sustain positive change, and build the confidence they need to move forward. It’s why we ensure a strong youth voice guides and influences our ongoing efforts through our Youth Advisory Group.

“Addressing youth mental health in ways that genuinely meet the needs of young people is a key priority.”

— UN World Youth Report 2025

Looking ahead

The UN’s findings reinforce what our community of supporters has long understood: that young people in crisis deserve compassion, not judgement. They deserve programs that see the whole person, not just the substance use. And they deserve a society that invests in their futures before it’s too late.

Sources

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It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Dame Marie Bashir AC, who served as Patron of the Sir David Martin Foundation from 2001 to 2014.

Dame Marie’s commitment to improving the lives of young Australians aligned seamlessly with our Foundation’s mission. Her distinguished career as a child and adolescent psychiatrist, combined with her role as the first female Governor of New South Wales, brought invaluable insight and advocacy to our work in youth alcohol and drug treatment.

During her thirteen years as our Patron, Dame Marie championed the Foundation’s efforts to provide accessible, evidence-based treatment for young people facing addiction. Her compassion, intellect, and unwavering dedication to mental health and youth wellbeing left a lasting mark on our organisation and the broader community.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dame Marie’s family and join all Australians in mourning the loss of this remarkable woman who dedicated her life to service.

Sir David Martin Foundation joins sector partners in expressing disappointment on the NSW Government’s response to the Drug Summit Report

Sir David Martin Foundation joins our partners in the Fair Treatment campaign and across the sector in responding to the NSW Government’s recent release of their response to the Drug Summit 2024 Co-Chair Report. As a Foundation dedicated to supporting young people affected by alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, we are particularly concerned about the implications of this response for vulnerable youth across NSW.

Young people deserve bold, evidence-based action that addresses the unique challenges they face. The Government’s response, whilst acknowledging some important areas, falls short of the comprehensive reform needed to truly support young people navigating drug use and the systems meant to help them.

The Fair Treatment Campaign shared a Media Release:

October 28, 2025

NSW Government squibs it in their response to the NSW Drug Summit Report

Responding to today’s announcement of the NSW Government’s response to the NSW Drug Summit Report, Emma Maiden, Uniting NSW.ACT’s Director of Advocacy and External Relations said: “The whole community will be shocked and disappointed at the lack of vision and boldness in the Government’s response to the Drug Summit.

“We saw the Bob Carr Labor Government meet the moment of the original Drug Summit in 1999 but the lack of leadership to meet the moment of the latest Drug Summit by the current government is profoundly disappointing.

“The NSW Government have let down the community down today.

“This response does not reflect what the community and the experts wanted.

“They have squibbed it.

“The mums and dads of NSW, the people who have lost someone they love, the people who can’t access treatment and the many, many organisations, officials and experts all came to the Drug Summit last year with goodwill, hope and high expectations for real, meaningful and positive change.

“Law enforcement, health experts, the community sector, academics, AOD specialists.

“This response today is really out of touch with community attitudes on these issues and is a real let down.

“While we welcome the reforms to the EDDI scheme- this was already going to happen as part of the two-year review into the scheme.

“In terms of an “investigation into cannabis driving laws”- we don’t need another ‘investigation’ we need the action already identified by the Cannabis Inquiry.

“First Nations people and regional communities are notably absent from this long-awaited response from government. Considering the failures of First Nations inclusion at the Drug Summit itself, this is a particularly hurtful exclusion of the people most disproportionately impacted by our unfair drug laws.

“We, along with everyone who contributed to and participated in the NSW Drug Summit in good faith, are fundamentally let down,” Emma said.

“The response today fails to adopt, resource and implement the 56 recommendations of the Drug Summit Report in full – to comprehensively deal with our unfair drug laws and the very real harm they cause.

“This weak response today is a win for bad politics over good policy” she said.

“This response fails to measure up to the bravery and efforts of the Carr Government 25 years ago.

“The reason we had a Drug Summit was that the status quo wasn’t enough, wasn’t working and was doing very real harm.

“This latest disappointment is only going to lead to further harm, further stigma in NSW and that needs to be worn by the NSW Government.

“The community, the experts, the sector, and the people of NSW deserve so much better than this.

“Despite this – we will continue to, along with everyone in the community and sector, campaign for real, meaningful reform to our unfair drug laws in NSW,” Emma said.

Uniting has run the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Kings Cross for nearly 25 years and has spearheaded the Fair Treatment campaign for fairer drug laws for over seven years.

Read the media release on Fair Treatment’s website here.

Key implications for young people

The Government’s response reveals concerning gaps in addressing young people’s needs:

  1. Youth Drug and Alcohol Court not reinstated: The Government explicitly rejects reinstating the evidence-based Youth Drug and Alcohol Court (Recommendation 12.5), removing a proven therapeutic pathway for young people in the justice system. This specialist court provided tailored, health-focused responses to young people with AOD issues – its absence represents a significant missed opportunity.
  2. Strip searching continues: The outright rejection of Recommendation 12.10 , means young people will continue to be subjected to invasive strip searches – a traumatic practice that contradicts harm reduction principles.
  3. Limited commitment to reducing criminalisation: Young people continue to be disproportionately impacted by drug laws. The refusal to strengthen youth diversion programs perpetuates harm. While the Government supports reducing spent conviction periods for juveniles from 3 years to 1 year (Recommendation 9.4), no implementation timeline is provided, meaning young people continue facing barriers to employment, housing and education due to minor drug convictions.
  4. Treatment access remains inadequate: Recommendation 6.2 (enhance youth treatment access) is only “supported in principle” with no concrete funding, timelines, or acknowledgment of current service gaps and waitlists.
  5. Regional and First Nations young people overlooked: As noted in the Fair Treatment media release, First Nations people and regional communities are “notably absent” from this response. This exclusion particularly harms young First Nations people in regional areas who face compounding disadvantage and disproportionate contact with the justice system.
  6. Insufficient investment in early intervention: The Government supports prevention and early intervention “in principle” (Recommendation 3.1), but the response lacks concrete funding commitments or timelines specifically targeting young people during critical developmental periods.

Sir David Martin Foundation has been a member of the Fair Treatment campaign since 2024, advocating for fairer drug laws and better support for people affected by drug use in NSW, and will continue to collaborate with the sector to advocate for change.

We believe young people deserve a health-based, evidence-informed approach to drug use that prioritises their wellbeing, reduces stigma, and provides meaningful pathways to support when needed.

Further reading

 

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation, in partnership with Sir David Martin Foundation, has completed a comprehensive mapping of youth alcohol and other drug (AOD) services across Australia.

The findings reveal both encouraging progress and critical gaps that directly impact young people’s access to life-saving support.

While the mapping shows notable strengths, it also revealed key obstacles preventing young people from accessing the specialist support they need, pointing to urgent opportunities for system improvement:

  • Specialised Clinical Services: Only 31 programs offer youth-specific withdrawal and detox services, indicating an opportunity to expand specialised clinical support.
  • Family Engagement: While 99 programs include family support, expanding this proven approach could significantly improve treatment outcomes, particularly given the strong evidence for family involvement in youth recovery.
  • Cultural Responsiveness: With 97 programs offering culturally appropriate support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, there’s scope to better address the specific needs of First Nations young people and families.
  • Service Navigation: Inconsistent age definitions across programs (ranging from 0+ to specific brackets like 16-28 years, with 12-25 being most common) creates confusion for families seeking appropriate support. Standardising these definitions could improve access.
  • Service Visibility: The complexity of the service landscape means some programs offering multiple services may not appear in relevant searches, presenting an opportunity to improve how services are categorised and promoted.

Overall this project highlighted some key areas where gains can be made:

  • Understanding how young people and their families go about searching for information on youth AOD services
  • Creating improved user-friendly tools that help families and young people navigate the complex service landscape and enable them to connect with appropriate specialist support
  • Using this evidence base to inform our funding decisions, prioritising investment in proven youth-specialist programs and addressing critical service gaps aligned to our mission
  • Building stronger connections and collaborations within the sector by sharing insights from this mapping with service providers and peak bodies

Ultimately this important work can also support initiatives to influence national youth AOD policy, including increased funding of specialist programs and addressing the geographic inequities that leave some communities underserved.

Making data-driven change

This mapping project represents more than statistics – it’s about ensuring that when a young person or family reaches out for help, they can access appropriate, youth-focused support. Every data point represents a potential pathway to recovery, and this comprehensive evidence base positions the Foundation to achieve our strategic aspirations over the next five years.

Through your continued support, Martin Youth Foundation is leveraging this evidence to become a shining light to provide youth AOD service intelligence, so that more young Australians can find and access the specialist support they need to build healthy, fulfilling lives.

This analysis is based on the comprehensive Youth AOD Services mapping project completed in partnership with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation in May 2025 utilising the Path2Help database.

Thank you to our partner:

 

New research reveals critical gaps in youth mental health services

Australian teenagers are waiting over three months (an average of 99.6 days) for their first mental health treatment session, according to new research from UNSW Sydney¹. The study of 375 teens aged 13-17 reveals a system in crisis, with demand for youth mental health support increasing rapidly over the past two decades.

Professor Bridianne O’Dea, one of the lead researchers, describes the current situation starkly: “We are now in the midst of a crisis where the demand for youth mental health care has increased rapidly in the past two decades”¹. The research highlights a fundamental mismatch between need and capacity, with psychological therapy being the first line of treatment but insufficient clinicians available to meet demand.

What Happens While Teens Wait

During these long waiting periods, many young people experience:

Dr Mirjana Subotic-Kerry, the study’s lead author, notes: “Young people reported that they experienced a high level of psychological distress during this period. They felt a strong sense of abandonment and a loss of hope”¹.

Signs of Resilience

Despite the systemic failures, the research also uncovered encouraging evidence of young people’s inherent resilience. Many teenagers demonstrated healthy coping strategies during their wait, including:

What Teens Actually Want

When asked how to improve their waiting experience, 50% of teens suggested simple solutions:

Dr Subotic-Kerry observed: “Interestingly, young people didn’t propose complex structural systems… They had really simple suggestions, such as increasing the amount of contact they received, and receiving information and communication about the wait time”¹.

The Solutions                                 

The research points to both immediate and long-term solutions that could significantly improve outcomes for young Australians seeking mental health support.

Immediate Actions:

Long-term Reform:

Why This Matters Now

Professor O’Dea emphasises the urgency: “The time is right for Australia to seriously consider the use of national standards”¹. With more young people seeking help than ever before, systemic reform is essential to prevent further harm during this critical period when teens are most vulnerable.

The research shows that while teens demonstrate remarkable resilience, individual coping cannot replace adequate mental health services. Simple communication improvements could be implemented immediately, while national standards would provide the systematic change needed for long-term solutions.

Need Help Now?

You can also access apps like these:

Sleep Ninja – Black Dog Institute 
Sleep Ninja is a free, evidence based smartphone app shown to be effective in helping young people with sleep problems.
ClearlyMe – Black Dog Institute
ClearlyMe is an app designed for teens aged 12-17 who are experiencing depressive symptoms, psychological distress or in other words, going through a tough time.
Smiling mind
Helps you learn the skills that promote mental wellbeing and create the habits to thrive.
Calm Harm
An app funded by teenage mental health charity stem4, to help manage the urge to self-harm.
SuperBetter
A game promoting youth mental health, resilience, social-emotional learning and student success.
MoodMission
When you tell MoodMission how you’re feeling, it gives you a tailored list of 5 simple, quick, effective, evidence-based Missions to improve your mood.

 

References

  1. Subotic-Kerry, M., O’Dea, B., et al. (2025). Wait times for mental health treatment among Australian adolescents: a cross-sectional survey study. BMJ Open, 15(3). Available at: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/3/e087342.full

This article is based on research conducted by the Black Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, and Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, as reported by UNSW Newsroom, March 2025.

The NSW Government now has six months to respond to a landmark report that could fundamentally reshape how Australia supports people facing drug-related challenges. Released in April 2025, the 2024 NSW Drug Summit report delivers 56 comprehensive recommendations across prevention, early intervention, community support, stigma reduction and criminal justice reform.

Recap of the NSW Drug Summit 2024

The summit, held 25 years after the historic 1999 Drug Summit, brought together over 550 individuals and 250 organisations across Griffith, Lismore, and Sydney. Co-chaired by former NSW Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt and John Brogden AM, the process emphasised treating drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal justice problem.

The report’s findings are stark: an estimated 101,773 people in NSW require but are not receiving treatment. Current services are underfunded, fragmented, and fail to address the growing complexity of presentations involving mental health, housing, and family issues.

Key recommendations at a glance

Service System Reform: A 10-year whole-of-government strategy with significantly increased funding, prioritising rural access and population-based distribution models.

Prevention and Early Intervention: Enhanced programs targeting the first 2,000 days of a child’s life, increased social housing investment, and place-based community initiatives.

Harm Reduction: Drug-checking services at music festivals, expanded needle and syringe programs, and legislative changes to enable additional medically supervised injecting centres.

Criminal Justice Reform: Reformed Early Drug Diversion Initiative with reduced police discretion, expanded specialist courts in regional areas, and cessation of strip searching for drug possession at festivals.

Workforce and Cultural Safety: Full implementation of the NSW AOD Workforce Strategy, expanded peer workforce programs, and enhanced Aboriginal community-controlled services.

Stigma Reduction: Community education campaigns, media guideline implementation, and reforms to spent conviction schemes to reduce employment barriers.

Young voices leading change

For young people, these recommendations offer hope, though many remain cautious about whether their voices will translate into real change. Over 35 young participants contributed to dedicated sessions, delivering powerful insights that fundamentally challenged decades of failed approaches—yet youth delegates raised concerns that insufficient time was allocated to exploring their priorities in detail.

Young people were clear that current school drug education “poorly resonated with their experience” and demanded programs treating drug use as a health issue. They called for evidence-based approaches delivered through channels they actually use, rather than outdated scare tactics.

The report identifies critical gaps in youth-specific services. Many young people face inappropriate placement in adult treatment facilities or must travel long distances from support networks. Current supported accommodation options of just 2-3 days are woefully inadequate for those leaving custody or treatment.

Perhaps most significantly, young people will be central to co-designing future services. The report calls for expanded peer workforce programs and integrated “no wrong door” approaches that address the complex, interconnected challenges young people face—from substance use and mental health to homelessness and trauma.

Powerful testimony from a young Aboriginal woman, who shared her experience as a 16-year-old, illustrated current system failures: “I went into drug and alcohol service and told them I was homeless and living on the streets. It’s like they ignored that entire part of my story because it was too hard for them… I understand now, as an adult, drug and alcohol services don’t help with homelessness, but it would’ve been gold for them to refer me to service that could assist me.”

Sector leaders demand action

Peak sector organisations are already mobilising for implementation. The Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies (NADA), the National Users and AIDS Association (NUAA), and ACON have issued a joint statement calling on the NSW Government to implement the report’s recommendations in full.

The organisations are urging the NSW Government to establish a dedicated Taskforce to oversee the rollout of the NSW Drug Summit recommendations, which must include representatives of people with lived and living experiences of drug use and other affected communities.

NADA CEO Dr Robert Stirling emphasised the sector’s readiness: “NADA supports the 56 priority actions and stands ready to work with the NSW Government to expedite development of a 10-year plan to improve drug policy and ensure that the people of NSW can access treatment and support when and where they need it.”

Time to act

The NSW Government’s six-month response timeline creates urgency around implementation. For young people and mental health advocates, this represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to move beyond fragmented, criminalising approaches toward integrated, health-focused services designed with and for young people.

As the peak bodies note: “The evidence is clear: a harm minimisation approach saves lives, reduces the burden on the justice system, and improves health and social outcomes. Now is the time to act.”

The blueprint exists. Young and lived experience voices have been heard. Sector leaders are united. Now comes the crucial test of political will and adequate resourcing to transform these recommendations into reality.

In a significant move for youth advocacy, independent MP Dr. Sophie Scamps has introduced the Wellbeing of Future Generations Bill 2025 in federal parliament. This groundbreaking legislation seeks to ensure that government decisions consider their long-term impact on future generations.

The bill would require the government and public bodies to consider how their policies affect young Australians, addressing the growing concern that political decisions are too focused on short-term outcomes. As reported in Women’s Agenda, research from Griffith University’s EveryGen reveals that 81% of Australians believe politicians prioritise short-term issues excessively.

Dr Scamps highlighted that today’s young people face numerous challenges that have developed over decades, including housing affordability, climate change, mental health issues, and intergenerational inequality. “We are leaving our kids a far harder world to flourish in than the one we inherited,” she stated.

A key feature of the bill is the establishment of a Commissioner for Future Generations who would lead public consultations on intergenerational equity. The legislation aims to create a framework where government departments work together rather than in competition, fostering more cohesive policy approaches.

Professor Patrick McGorry, Director of Orygen Youth Health, has voiced strong support for the bill, noting that “young people are being handed a raw deal” and emphasizing that young Australians are facing unfair disadvantages despite being the very individuals who will shape and sustain our nation’s future.

The bill, which was seconded by Liberal MP Bridget Archer, draws inspiration from similar legislation introduced in Wales in 2015. It represents an important step toward ensuring that the wellbeing of future generations becomes a central consideration in Australia’s governance and policy development.

Martin Youth Foundation recognises the importance of initiatives that protect and enhance the future prospects of young Australians, particularly those facing mental health challenges and other systemic barriers to wellbeing.

 

This blog is based on an article published by Women’s Agenda titled “‘Leaving our kids a harder world’: Dr Sophie Scamps pushes government to consider young people in its decisions.” Read the full article here.

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