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Opportunity for young LGBTQ+ people to join a Youth Advisory Committee

9 August 2022

Youth voices needed for research project

The Matilda Centre has a unique opportunity for gender and/or sexuality diverse (LGBTQ+) young people aged 16-20 years to join a Youth Advisory Committee to advise a PhD project.

A research project at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use is establishing a LGBTQ+ Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) to provide advice, guidance and input for a PhD program of work that ultimately aims to reduce disparities in mental ill-health and substance use among LGBTQ+ young people using a trauma-informed prevention approach.

This body of work will be undertaken by PhD student and scholarship recipient, Leslie Peters (they/he), under the supervision of Dr Emma Barrett, Program Lead in Trauma and Crime Research at the Matilda Centre; Professor Nicola Newton, Direction of Prevention at the Matilda Centre; and Dr Yael Perry, Co-Head of Youth Mental Health at Telethon Kids Institute.

The success of this work depends on the voices of LGBTQ+ young people and their diverse perspectives, experiences, feelings, and needs. The LGBTQ+ YAC is a forum for the proactive seeking and meaningful inclusion and actioning of the insights, advice, guidance, and direction of LGBTIQ+ young people for this PhD program of work. We welcome and strongly encourage the participation of people from across the rainbow community, especially trans, non-binary and gender diverse people, people of colour, Asian Australians, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

What is involved

Three-year position, offering support for travel and renumeration for meetings and research co-design
Preparing for and attending four 1-hour meetings each year
Advising on the key activities and outputs from the project
Sharing expertise and guidance regarding the direction and dissemination of the research
Contribution recognised through acknowledgement in final reports, publications and/or presentations

How to express your interest

Gender and/or sexually diverse (LGBTQ+) young Australians aged 16-20 are encouraged to express their interest via the online form, applications close 23August 2022.

The first meeting will be held sometime during the week of Monday 29 August 2022 to Friday 2 September 2022 depending members' best availabilities.