This group comprises senior members of the research team (across Curtin and UQ) and members of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The core leadership group is responsible for all strategic and major decisions for the project after appropriate consultation with other groups within the broader governance framework.

The group will use a collaborative approach to decision making noting that the Department has the final approval of all major content and implementation decisions The core leadership group comprises Helen Bennasi, Cate Chesney, Jess Runko as Department representatives and David Lawrence, Holly Erskine and Divna Haslam as research team representatives.

The Scientific Reference Group (SRG) is comprised of technical and research experts with detailed subject matter knowledge. The SRG additionally contribute their expertise and provide guidance and recommendations to ensure the successful design and implementation of this important national survey.  Specifically, the SRG will provides advice on:

• Finalisation of the selection of the DISC-5 diagnostic modules
• Additional survey content areas
• Priority setting

Specification of content and assistance with the development of new or revised survey modules will additionally be advised by the Scientific Reference Group members.

There will be a review of the results of the pilot test and dress rehearsal resultant advice on changes to the survey methodology, review of the preliminary findings prior to publication and advice on analysis and reporting and a review of strategies for enhancing the dissemination, impact and reach of the findings and translation into policy and practice.

The National Stakeholder Advisory Group (NSAG) is comprised of key stakeholders who can provide policy and practice insights to strengthen the study and for whom the data will be highly relevant for policy and planning purposes.

The National Stakeholder Advisory Group has been established to provide ongoing guidance and advice to enhance survey impact and relevance to future policy and program design and service delivery.

To maximise the policy, practice and service impact of the study and the relevance of the findings to the mental health sector and related sectors we will establish a National Stakeholder Advisory Group (NSAG).

This group comprises key stakeholders across government and relevant commissions (e.g., mental health commissions, child and family commissions etc) and other sector organisations such as key service providers.

The Youth Advisory Group (YAG) is comprised of young people 16-24 years of age with a variety of lived experiences including those with and without experience of mental ill health. Where possible diverse, lived experience and geographical locations will be represented through the YAG.

The group is comprised of 8-10 young people with diversity of gender, age and geographical location represented. Members of the YAG are reimbursed for their participation in the advisory group.

The Parent and Carer Advisory Group (PAG) is comprised of a group of parents and caregivers of children and young people. The PAG aims to ensure the lived experience and opinions of parents and carers are appropriately considered in study design and implementation.

A Parent and Carer Advisory Group includes parents and carers with lived experience of caring for a child with mental illness, and parent and carer perspectives in general.

It is essential this group represents the diversity of parenting and caring experience including representing those and is not limited. This group is also expected to represent by proxy the voices of young children 4-15 who are not covered by the Youth Advisory Group.

Members of the PAG are reimbursed for their participation in the advisory group.

Young Minds: Our Future is interested in the prevalence rates of mental disorders for Australian children and adolescents. It provides the opportunity to investigate changes in child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing over the past decade and address critical questions arising from the previous survey (known as Young Minds Matter).

The study Research Team is interested to hear the perspective of all Australian children and adolescents, not just individuals with mental health difficulties.

Participation involves face-to-face interviewing that will take approximately 60 minutes (range from 15 minutes to 90 minutes).

Only families living in certain areas will be able to participate. This is designed to ensure the data is representative of all Australians. If you are eligible to participate a Roy Morgan representative will provide a personal invitation to you via your home address.

Children and Adolescents

This study will ask about your mental health and wellbeing.

You will receive a $50 gift card for your participation.

Parents and Carers

This study will ask about your perceptions on your child and/or adolescents mental health and wellbeing.

You will receive a $100 gift card for your participation.

Methodology: 

Young Minds: Our Future the Third Australian Study of Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing uses a cross-sectional household survey methodology. Families of children aged 4-17 will be recruited from pre-determined statistical areas across all States and Territories across Australia.

We will interview 6500 parents from across Australia in their homes, which will take an average of 1 hour. We will also invite around 3000 adolescents to complete a survey online which will take 45 minutes on average.

Data will be gathered on a range of topics including diagnostic data on the prevalence of common mental disorders including child and adolescent mental health disorders, mental wellbeing, self-harm, suicidal behaviours, bullying, problem eating behaviours, substance abuse, online addictive behaviours, health service use and economic analysis.

Data collection will begin in mid 2025 with results expected to be released in early 2027. Data will be available for use by other researchers after the conclusion of the project.

Collaboration:

Researchers wishing to collaborate prior to this may contact Young Minds Project Team at youngminds@curtin.edu.au or Lead/Co-Lead Investigators:

• Professor David Lawrence: david.lawrence@curtin.edu.au
• Associate Professor Holly Erskine: youngminds@curtin.edu.au
• Associate Professor Divna Haslam: youngminds@curtin.edu.au

Young Minds: Our Future will identify data on child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing. The third national survey will not only update Australian prevalence and service use data, but to take the opportunity to expand understandings of the factors underpinning the wellbeing of young Australians. This data will help inform the next generation of service delivery, health promotion and prevention activities.

The primary aim for this survey is to update national prevalence rates of mental disorders for Australian children and adolescents, including examining changes since Young Minds Matter, the previous national survey on child and adolescent mental health and wellbeing. A range of secondary aims will provide additional information about subsyndromal symptoms, impairment, suicide and self-harm, experiences of maltreatment, help seeking and educational outcomes.

To provide guidance and advice to enhance survey implementation and impact, the study is governed by the following groups:

• Survey Leadership Group
• Scientific Reference Group
• National Stakeholder Advisory Group
• Youth Advisory Group
• Parent and Carer Advisory Group.

The project is funded by the Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, $8.1 million have been invested in the completion of the project.