2024

(L-R: #chatsafe adviser Fiona , YAC members Katie Barton, Amelia Asciutto and Orygen's Ella Gow at Parliament House, Canberra on 8 October)

Orygen’s youth leaders met with parliamentarians and representatives from social media companies in Canberra this week, following a new report which finds the majority of young people would suffer if a widespread social media ban was implemented.  

Orygen Youth Advisory Council members Amelia Asciutto and Katie Barton, #chatsafe adviser Fiona and Orygen Advocacy and Partnerships Adviser Ella Gow joined ReachOut and Prevention United to attend a day of meetings with representatives from YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat, along with federal ministers and senators.

• Social by design: Orygen's Head of Suicide Prevention explains why harnessing social media's benefits is wiser than age-based bans 

(L-R: Katie, Amelia, Ella and Fiona outside Parliament House)

ReachOut’s youth advocates presented recommendations from the new report, including that a social media ban could cut young people off from vital mental health support, as 73 per cent of young people in Australia turn to social media when it comes to support for their mental health. 

Orygen’s youth advisers then shared a summary of Orygen’s research into social media and youth self-harm and suicide prevention.  

#chatsafe adviser Fiona said the day was a positive experience but that there’s still work to be done.  

“This should be an ongoing conversation and collaboration, and one that involves young people and their experiences the core of decision making,” she said. 

“It was powerful being able to share the space with other youth advocates and present Orygen’s critical research directly to parliamentarians and representatives from social media companies. These meaningful discussions highlighted the urgent need for policies that centre the mental health and wellbeing of young users in online environments.” 

Ella said it was “interesting and energising” to speak directly with social media platforms and ministers.  

“Young people also had the opportunity to share their lived experiences and answer questions from the politicians,” she said. 

“We felt reassured that the government is listening to what we have to say in regards to the restrictions being proposed on social media.” 

(The youth advocates with Minister for Youth Anne Aly and Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride)

The event coincided with Federal Parliament’s Mental Health Sector Expo, which gives organisations the opportunity to showcase their research and results to federal MPs in one of the last parliamentary sitting weeks of the year. 

Head of Orygen Digital XR Innovation Lab and Co-Lead of XR Research Professor Lucia Valmaggia represented Orygen at the expo, providing demonstrations of Orygen’s world-leading digital innovations. Director Employment & Education Partnerships Gina Chinnery also provided a window into Orygen’s role as an incubator of the next generation of the youth mental health workforce, both as a registered training organisation and through Orygen’s many skill enhancement programs.