Listening to the voice of the future generation is one way we can learn, grow and collectively take action.
Our Youth Advisory Group (YAG) is a partnership where young people directly contribute to and shape the way we provide support and co-design of how services are delivered.
Members of the group talk directly to Life Without Barriers Board Directors and senior leaders and give direct insight about their experiences and views on ways to change and improve support to young people.
This year, the YAG facilitated the development of a dedicated guide for engaging children and young people in decision making and over 45 young people joined in the process.
Jasmin*, a YAG member who has a passion for advocacy and youth empowerment, was involved in the making of the guide. She said being involved in it's development showed her and other young people that they had “a really big leadership role” and it gave them the opportunity to show how they are “more capable than what people think of us being in care.”
Speaking at the 2022 CREATE Voices in Action Conference where she co-presented with Executive Director Jane French, Jasmin said, “It’s important for adults to listen to children because you need to listen to a child to learn how to help them, how to advise them in the right path.
"If they need your assistance, then you’re there and you understand. The child trusts you to help them."
"If you don’t know how to help a child, they will lose trust in you and the system.”
Find out more about what Jasmin said at the conference here.
Jasmin continues to engage in discussion with Jane French about her lived experience in care, and is interested in generating ideas that could impact and improve services to children and young people provided by Life Without Barriers and the out-of-home care system.
A person's story is precious. We take storytelling seriously. Sometimes people are able to tell their own story, and we love that. We always make sure they give us their ok, and we will always honour the trust placed in us to bring their story forward.
*Names have been changed to protect the children in this story.
