News and Events

What’s Behind Parental Concerns about Confidentiality for Teens?

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Congratulations to Rosemary Sasse, Rony Duncan, Rosalie Aroni and Susan Sawyer who have just had a paper published in the Journal of Adolescent Health about confidentiality with adolescents and why parents worry about it.

Dr Duncan and Professor Sawyer’s previous research had shown that parents had mixed views about confidential health discussions for their teenage children. In this new study, the research team was interested in finding out more about what was behind parents’ views. To this end, Rosemary Sasse conducted a series of interviews with parents of adolescents to hear their opinions regarding confidential consultations for adolescents with doctors (without parents present). Parents’ views seemed to be influenced by 2 key factors: (1) how much they trust health professionals; and (2) how they view their role as a parent.

The findings should help health professionals to understand why parents might be reluctant to step out of the consultation and how they can talk to both parents and young people in order to help everyone to feel comfortable with confidential consultations. Only in this way can adolescents receive the developmentally-appropriate care that is so vital for them.

 To read more, the full article can be found here:

Confidential Consultations With Adolescents: An Exploration of Australian Parents’ Perspectives

Rosemary A Sasse, Rosalie A Aroni, Susan M Sawyer & Rony E Duncan

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X12008002

Read the article in the Medical Observer about this paper

http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/parents-lack-faith-in-confidential-teen-consults

 Read the article published on “The Conversation“

Where are They Now? A look at our past students: Olivia Doidge

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2011 Graduate Certificate in Adolescent Health and Welfare (Oncology) Graduate Olivia Doidge

I undertook and completed the Graduate Certificate in Adolescent Health and Welfare (Oncology) in 2011. At the time I was working as an Occupational Therapist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Studying the course has meant that I am now working in my dream role with ONTrac at Peter Mac Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service.

My position is extremely varied and involves a combination of clinical and project work which I find extremely rewarding.  Within my clinical role, I work closely with the Education and Vocation Consultant to provide support and assistance to young people referred to the service.  The project work aspect involves the development, implementation and evaluation of a pilot vocational training program which addresses the specific and unique issues that young people with cancer often experience.  I also have the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team that comprises a range of healthcare professionals all focused on the care of young people living with cancer. 

 The course has motivated and encouraged me to improve the clinical care I provide to young people through applying the knowledge and skills I have learnt and will continue to expand upon.

I would strongly encourage anyone who is either currently working with or wishes to work with young people with cancer to enrol. It will enhance your knowledge regarding the unique and specific medical and psychosocial issues experienced by this population, provide you with a range of theoretical frameworks to guide your practice and supply you with an array of skills to meet the needs of this often challenging yet rewarding group.  It is definitely manageable to work full-time and complete the course, the year flies by and at the end you may end up with your dream job!

Welcome to the New Education Blog for the Centre for Adolescent Health!

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Students Graduate from the Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Welfare

A warm welcome to all of you visiting our new education blog for the Centre for Adolescent Health!

This blog has been created to keep you informed on news and events relevant to students and participants in the Centre for Adolescent Health education programs; the Invergowrie Program and The University of Melbourne Master/Graduate Diploma/Certificate in Adolescent Health and Welfare.

Together with the launch of our education blog we will be launching a new video demonstrating the work of the Centre for Adolecent Health’s Practice and Learning team. Please take some time to view the video below.

Thank you for visiting and please come back soon.

 

 

Chronic Illness Peer Support Program (ChIPS) 2013 Camp

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Another year, another great ChIPS camp.

The Chronic Illness Peer Support (ChIPS) Program held its annual camp from 16th – 18th January at the Mt Evelyn Recreation Camp. Always a highlight on the ChIPS calendar, this year 42 young people attended along with ChIPS staff, volunteers and a healthcare team – our biggest attendance yet! Over the three days a mixture of group and team activities unfolded.  T-ball is fast becoming a tradition at camp and teams competed for points in activities such as archery, giant swing and skits.

The theme for this year’s camp was Harry Potter and a definite highlight was the ‘Halloween/ Sci-Fi’ costume party on the second night.  Despite the heat we all managed to have a fabulous time!

 The Camp Committee (comprised of ChIPS members, an adult mentor and assisted by ChIPS staff) planned the 2012 camp and did a great job of creating and delivering a fantastic event.  The ChIPS members who attended were a diverse group of young people of differing ages and health conditions. A big thanks to everyone for contributing to such a memorable camp, one full of support, respect and fun!

For more information on the ChIPS Program, see http://www.rch.org.au/chips or contact Jarnia Cameron on jarnia.cameron@rch.org.au or 9345 6616.

Adolescent Friendly Children’s Hospital Report

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A new report released by the Centre for Adolescent Health provides the answers to important questions about the quality of care provided to adolescents within a children’s hospital. This report is in response to previous work that demonstrated that the health issues affecting adolescents require different responses from the hospital as a system (as compared to younger children) and that the hospital needs to engage more effectively with young people themselves as they mature (not just with their parents), in order to promote young people’s growing capacity for self-management. On behalf of the RCH, the Centre for Adolescent Health set out to explore:   

(i)  what are the indicators of adolescent friendly healthcare for adolescent patients in a hospital setting?

(ii)  how do we measure adolescent friendly healthcare in a hospital setting? and 

(iii) what is the adolescent friendliness of the health care provided by the RCH, as rated by our adolescent patients and their parents?

The report outlines the processes undertaken and shares the results of the first ever representative survey of adolescent patients and their families at a children’s hospital.

Please contact Professor Susan Sawyer for more information on susan.sawyer@rch.org.au

Please click here to view the report

IYDS commences 8th wave of data collection

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The study commenced in 2002 with 3000 school students in Victoria, and 3000 in Washington, U.S. who were surveyed in school on an annual basis. In Victoria, the study has continued to follow participants from school into young adulthood.  We gratefully acknowledge each participant’s ongoing involvement which makes a vital contribution to increasing our understanding of the issues facing young people.  Findings from the study are being used successfully to advocate for policies in areas such as alcohol and drugs, bullying, violence, and mental health.

Other work planned for this year includes analysis of 2010 data to find out more about alcohol policies in the workplace and in sporting and entertainment contexts, and looking at a range of other issues relevant to

young adults including mental health, drink driving and domestic violence.     We will also seek funding to continue following the USA participants; this will enable us to compare the experiences of young adults in Australia and the USA.

Find out more about the IYDS at our website:   www.iyds.org

If you’re an IYDS participant, you can friend us or keep up to date through our facebook page:   www.facebook.com/IYDS.AUS

Vinnie’s CEO sleepout

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Professor Susan Sawyer was one of four professors from The University of Melbourne who participated in the recent 2012 Vinnies’ CEO Sleepout that helped raise over a 5 million dollars for homeless Australians. Her commitment to the event stemmed from her knowledge of the greater risks experienced by this complex group of people through the Centre’s ‘Young People’s Health Service’. Based at ‘Frontyard’ in the CBD, the Young People’s Health Service provides healthcare to homeless and socially marginalised young people aged from 12-25 years.

The four professors (Susan Sawyer, Glenn Bowes, Mark Cook and Peter Ebeling) joined 157 other Victorians who spent the night sleeping rough at Etihad Stadium. Over $600,000 was raised in Victoria, with the four professors contributing over $15,000 between them.

After a night on 2 sheets of cardboard, she told us that she wasn’t looking quite so chirpy at 5 am….

Professor Sawyer wishes to thank everyone who sponsored her in this event.