Synopsis

We invite you to attend a special seminar to celebrate International Youth Day for 2025, co-hosted by the Burnet Institute and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI). This seminar will present the key findings and recommendations from the second Lancet Commission on adolescent health and wellbeing, and showcase research in global adolescent health.

The second Lancet Commission on adolescent health and wellbeing

With a global population of 1.96 billion adolescents, ensuring their health is crucial for our future. A new Lancet Commission emphasises that investing in adolescent health yields a “triple dividend”—benefits for young people today, the adults they will become, and the next generation.

However, current funding is insufficient, with adolescent health initiatives receiving only 2.4% of health development assistance in 2016–21. With a rising burden of non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders among adolescents, we must advocate for meaningful investments and collaboration across sectors to address the unique challenges facing today’s youth.

Youth Localizing the SDGs

The theme of International Youth Day (IYD) 2025, Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond, highlights the unique role of youth in translating global ambitions into community-driven realities. As development partners work to translate and implement the global goals within specific local contexts, aligning them with community needs while maintaining consistency with national and international commitments, young people are critical partners. They bring creativity, insight, and deep community ties that help bridge the gap between policy and practice. With over 65 per cent of SDG targets linked to local governance, youth engagement is not a luxury—it is a necessity.

This year’s IYD will also underscore the essential role of local and regional governments. Being the closest to the communities they serve, they are uniquely positioned to create inclusive policy environments, allocate resources, and establish mechanisms for youth participation in local planning and decision-making. By integrating youth priorities into local and regional strategies and fostering partnerships with youth organizations, authorities can collaborate with young people to transform their ideas into impactful solutions. When local governments provide spaces for innovation, mentorship, and civic engagement, they not only accelerate SDG implementation but also nurture future community leaders and changemakers.

This year’s IYD takes on added significance as it coincides with the upcoming 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth. It remains a guiding framework for recognizing youth as key actors in sustainable development and participatory governance—principles directly echoed in this year’s theme. Discussions related to the 2025 IYD theme will also inform preparations for the Second World Summit for Social Development to be held in Doha in November.

As the world embarks on the final stretch toward 2030, IYD 2025 calls for real investments in inclusive policies and programmes that leverage local youth actions for the SDGs.

Agenda

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm – IYD event seminar

• 5 min | Welcome – Elissa Kennedy (Burnet)
• 20 min | The Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing – Elissa and Molly O’Sullivan (MCRI)
• 30 min | Showcasing work related to the Commission’s recommendations (5 min each):
  • Enabling environment:
    • Youth leadership – Seth Westhead and Jaameeta Kurji (Kids Research Institute)
    • Obesity and data – Karly Cini (MCRI)
  • Strengthening actions within existing sectors:
    • Defining global standards of quality adolescent health care – Alice Morgan (MCRI)
    • Adolescent-responsive health services in PNG – Rose Suruka (CCHS PNG)
  • Emerging threats:
    • Climate and adolescent health – Marie Habito (Burnet)
    • Social media – Megan Lim (Burnet)
• 5 min | close – Pete Azzopardi (MCRI)

3.30 pm to 4.30 pm – Afternoon tea and networking.

This is a hybrid event.

Time: 2:30 to 4:30 pm AEDT
Date: 14th of August 2025