Today’s Australian adolescents are the best-ever nourished, educated and interconnected generation – but they also face unprecedented cultural, economic and social change.

Adolescence is a critical developmental phase for achieving human potential. It is characterised by dynamic brain development, a time when interaction with the social environment moulds the capabilities that an individual takes forward into later life.

But are we creating the conditions for adolescents and young adults to thrive?

To find out – and have your say – come along to this free public forum presented by Melbourne Conversations and the 15th World Congress on Public Health.

PRESENTATION

The Centre’s Director of Adolescent Health Research, Professor George Patton, psychiatrist and epidemiologist, will discuss how the findings of the Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing are transforming the way we think about this age group.

PANEL

Carmel Guerra OAM – Founder and CEO of the Centre for Multicultural Youth

Professor Alex Ezeh – Executive Director of The African Population and Health Research Center in Kenya

Teresa Hall – Research Fellow and PhD student, Centre for Mental Health and The Nossal Institute, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Emma Kellaway – YLab, Foundation for Young Australians

Professor George Patton – Psychiatrist and epidemiologist at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

MC Peter Mares – contributing editor to Inside Story magazine

This free public forum is an partnership between Melbourne Conversations and the 15th World Congress on Public Health.

Wednesday 5 April, from 5.30 to 7pm

Plenary Hall 2, Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre

1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf

Free event. Register now.