Purpose
The purpose of the Alliance is to provide: a structured, ongoing, formal mechanism for multiple stakeholder groups to connect and work collaboratively towards improved service system responses for children and young people.
Guiding principles
The work of the Alliance is underpinned by the following principles:
- The broader interests of children and young people come first
- Human rights
- Person-centred
- Diversity
- Inclusion
- Equity
- Learning
- Promoting respect and trust
- Participation
- Transparency
- Accountability
Background
In 2022, the then Office for Mental Health & Wellbeing (now subsumed by the Health and Community Services Directorate) partnered with the Youth Coalition of the ACT and the primary health network, Capital Health Network (CHN), on a project to better understand the ACT child and youth mental health service system by consulting service providers and young people.
The Alliance emerged from a recognition that the ACT's young people needed a more 'joined up' sector that allowed for shared prioritising and decision-making, and which could develop person-centred, integrated multidisciplinary approaches. A range of stakeholders across the mental health, education, child, youth and family sectors then came together to participate in strategic planning activities to design it.
In alignment with the Alliance's values, young people played a significant part in this design and subsequent evolution, primarily through the Youth Reference Group (YRG). The YRG continues to shape the conversations we have and how the Alliance incorporates the perspectives of young people. You can learn more about the YRG's background here.
Alliance Report: July 2023 to December 2024
The Alliance Report (July 2023 – December 2024) summarises the Alliance's activities and progress. It is available to view in Publications.