Youth Voices

The cornerstone of youth voices is to create leadership opportunities for all young people.

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The Youth Voices Story ...

We have been running SALSA Youth Voices since 2016. When the pandemic threw a curveball in 2020, we had to think differently about reaching young people. In 2021, we decided to use the Youth Voices framework and run the Youth Voices COVID-19 Video Competition. In 2022, we ran the Youth Voices Unpacking Vaping poster competition. We will host the Youth Voices competition annually regarding student responses to emerging public health issues.

Reasons why the way the program is run is so beneficial

Youth Voices is one of the most effective ways to reach young people. It is about considering their perspectives, ideas, experiences, knowledge, and actions.  This is particularly important among voices that are often not heard. Students are given opportunities to identify issues important to them and design messages/solutions. 

High school students engaged
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High schools
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High school students
Years 7-
Prizes awarded for entries
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Achievements to date

Youth Voices Initiatives

Youth Voices Get Active Video Competition 2024

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Youth Voices Get Active video competition


Youth Voices Get Active video competition

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Youth Voices COVID-19 video competition

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Youth Voices Unpacking Vaping poster competition

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Youth Voices Projects

The COVID Acronym

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Combat COVID Together​

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If Vaccines had a Group Chat

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Take Your Shot

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Students & Teachers Love Youth Voices ...

"I’d like to thank the Prevention Education and Research Unit (PERU) for recognising the need for innovative strategies to spread health and wellbeing information. Thank you for empowering the youth of Sydney to have a voice during the pandemic"
Anonymous
Anonymous
“The partnership and the relationship between SALSA and the Giants is very important. Students have that frame of mind where it’s not just about me, it’s about how can I benefit the community and work with everyone around me.”
Emad Elkheir
Emad ElkheirCommunity Engagement Coordinator, GWS
“SALSA gives students the opportunity to voice their opinion to actually take on what they are learning and be confident enough to express their views and the knowledge gained through the program, to other students.”
Samir Abdelkrimi
Samir AbdelkrimiSALSA Co-ordinator, Colyton High School
“After so many years, we see the need and inherent value of the SALSA program throughout the school. In a school where 25% of the students live in homes of considerable poverty and 200 of the 1125 students have health plans for chronic poor health, a health strategy of this kind is a powerful opportunity to change health and life outcomes for those students, for all students”
Christine Cawsey AM
Christine Cawsey AMPrincipal Rooty Hill High School
"SALSA has given peer leaders interpersonal skills to work in different groups, and strengthened the value to live healthy lifestyles. The program is a positive avenue for students to learn through creativity and practice."
Bernadette Corpuz
Bernadette CorpuzTeacher, Rooty Hill High School
"The SALSA program has helped open channels of communication between younger and older students, as well as between students and teachers on not only health topics covered in this course, but also a much broader range of areas across all dimensions of health."
Head PDHPE Teacher
Head PDHPE TeacherNepean High School
"I think it’s a very neat model where you’re not just saying to students sit back and listen, and I’ll tell you all about it. We’re saying this is for you to be active - active in your learning, active in managing your lifestyle … but also active in giving the message more broadly to family and friends."
Emeritus Professor, Stephen Leeder
Emeritus Professor, Stephen LeederDirector Research Education Network, WSLHD
"Seeing disadvantaged areas of Sydney that I wouldn’t be exposed to during my studies has been really beneficial for my career, and it’s been a real privilege to be involved in the SALSA Program.“
Christina Roger
Christina RogerUni Student, University Of Sydney
“At a time when western Sydney is experiencing a diabetes epidemic, the SALSA program‘s ability to contact so many young lives and reach into families couldn’t be more significant. Simply telling someone to do something rarely leads to sustained change”.
Dr Kean-Seng Lim
Dr Kean-Seng LimGP Mt Druitt and Past-President NSW AMA
"I’m 13 years old. I’ve done the SALSA Program at school. I really enjoyed playing soccer and basketball with the Year 10 mentors, and it made me want to be active.“
Joeline
JoelineYear 8 Student, Chifley College Mt Druitt
“The SALSA Program is important because it teaches students leadership skills as it allows them to learn how to teach and allows them to experience and learn more about health through actually teaching, which is a good way to learn.”
Matthew
MatthewYear 10 Student, Model Farms High School
"I’ve found being involved in the SALSA Program this year has increased my self confidence and motivated me to act as a role model and lead by example in attempting to influence younger students’ lifestyle habits."
Christina Roger
Christina RogerUni Student, University Of Sydney
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“Our vision is to enable young people to make positive changes in their own lives, and the voice to make an impact on their peers and the school community.”

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