SYNOPSIS

ChIPS the RCH Chronic Illness Peer Support program, is twenty one years old this year. Managed by the Centre for Adolescent Health, ChIPS brings young people together to share their experiences of chronic illness, create peer support networks and engage in activities that they may not get a chance to do otherwise. The program uses both Youth Participation and Peer Support models.

An important body of literature has grown that suggests that holistic care of adolescents with significant chronic illness is necessary to reduce the impact of disease and allow them to live as similarly as possible as their friends. The key concept underpinning ChIPS is empowering young people to take ownership and lead parts of the program and by doing so learn important life skills. Our evaluation indicates that through participation in the program participants are able to take more responsibility for their illness and the management of it.

In 2014 ChIPS offered travel scholarships for two ‘ChIPPERS’ (participants of the ChIPS Program) to present at the International Association of Adolescent Health Youth Forum and Congress in Paris in 2014. To apply for these scholarships ChIPPERS spoke of what aspects of adolescent health they were passionate about; a very rewarding and educative experience for the panel.  This Grand Round presentation will share this experience, and includes young people sharing their experience of adolescent health and well-being and what they think can be improved in the providing care to adolescents and young adults with chronic illness.

SPEAKERS

Meagan Hunt BmusTh, MmusTh, RMT –

ChIPS Group Program Facilitator and Registered Music Therapist

Meagan is a Registered Music Therapist and has been for 16 years working in Brisbane, Dublin, Romania and Melbourne. Since completing her Research Masters of Music Therapy 8 years ago with Sudanese refugees she has focused on learning new skills and diversifying to include group therapy and counselling techniques. She draws upon these techniques when facilitating the ChIPS program. Meagan has been specialising in working with adolescents for the past 10 years and in particular adolescents with chronic illness. In recent years Meagan has worked with colleague Jarnia Cameron to provide opportunities for the ChIPPERS to share their experience of being a member of the ChIPS program and introduced a Music therapy component to the ChIPS program.

ChIPPERS: Jemma Young, James Williams, Scott Campbell, Zac Hanyan, Curtis Reeder, Beth Sleeman and Eliza Masterson.

The ChIPPERS who are presenting are Peer Leaders of the program and have been involved for between 3 and 8 years. Jemma Young and Scott Campbell were the successful applicants of the travel scholarship and represented ChIPS at the International Association of Adolescent Health in Paris 2014.