Synopsis

Almost 10 years has passed since the first Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. Whilst some progress has been made, many areas of need are escaping our efforts, and much more needs to be done to ensure optimal adolescent health and wellbeing. This second Commission brought together 44 commissioners from across the globe and disciplines, including 10 youth commissioners who co-led each workstream.

In this Grand Round, six commissioners coming from the Melbourne Children’s precinct will highlight where progress has been made and where it has stalled, the new drivers that have emerged, and the actions that are required to advance adolescent health and wellbeing globally.

Speakers

Professor Susan Sawyer AM holds the Geoff and Helen Handbury Chair of Adolescent Health at the University of Melbourne and is Director of the Centre for Adolescent Health at The Royal Children’s Hospital. A paediatrician by training, she is internationally recognised for her leadership in adolescent health.

Molly O’Sullivan is an experienced public health professional with more than 10 years’ experience as a research and program coordinator and health communicator. Molly has expertise in youth engagement and with managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects and fostering international collaborations in adolescent health research.

Kate Francis is a biostatistician at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute where she is involved in statistical analysis supporting global adolescent health and wellbeing research. Kate also provides statistical expertise for clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes for newborn infants.

Luo Li is a PhD candidate at the Centre of Adolescent Health and the University of Melbourne. Her primary research interest is looking at existing measures of wellbeing for adolescents and understanding how these measures are applied in global population surveys.

Elissa Kennedy is Co-Program Director, Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health and Head of Global Adolescent Health at the Burnet Institute, and holds an honorary appointment at MCRI. She leads a multi-disciplinary research program that aims to accelerate action for adolescent health in Asia and the Pacific, with a focus on SRH, mental health, climate and health.