Advisory Groups

Young Minds: Our Future is a national study exploring the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in Australia.

To make sure the study is done well – and makes a real difference – it’s guided by advisory groups made up young people, parents and carers, clinicians, academics and policy experts. These groups help shape the study’s design, ensure ethical and inclusive practices, and support how findings are shared and used.

Together, they help make sure the research is strong, relevant, and useful for improving support for young people.

To learn more about the YAG, PAG, SRG and NSAG Advisory groups, click the boxes below!

Governance Groups

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

ScientiGic Reference Group (SRG)
The National Stakeholder Advisory Group (NSAG) is comprised of key stakeholders who can provide policy and practice insights to strengthen the study and for whom the data will be highly relevant for policy and planning purposes.
The National Stakeholder Advisory Group has been established to provide ongoing guidance and advice to enhance survey impact and relevance to future policy and program design and service delivery.
To maximise the policy, practice and service impact of the study and the relevance of the findings to the mental health sector and related sectors we will establish a National Stakeholder Advisory Group (NSAG).
This group comprises key stakeholders across government and relevant commissions (e.g., mental health commissions, child and family commissions etc) and other sector organisations such as key service providers.

Governance Groups

Youth Advisory Group (YAG)

The Youth Advisory Group (YAG) is comprised of young people 16-24 years of age with a variety of lived experiences including those with and without experience of mental ill health. Where possible diverse, lived experience and geographical locations will be represented through the YAG.

The group is comprised of 8-10 young people with diversity of gender, age and geographical location represented.

Members of the YAG are reimbursed for their participation in the advisory group.

Governance Groups

Parent/Carer Advisory Group (PAG)

The Parent and Carer Advisory Group (PAG) is comprised of a group of parents and caregivers of children and young people. The PAG aims to ensure the lived experience and opinions of parents and carers are appropriately considered in study design and implementation.

A Parent and Carer Advisory Group includes parents and carers with lived experience of caring for a child with mental illness, and parent and carer perspectives in general.

It is essential this group represents the diversity of parenting and caring experience including representing those with and without lived experience of caring for a child with mental health challenges. This group also aims to represent, by proxy, the voices of young children 4-15 who are not included in the Youth Advisory Group.

Members of the PAG are reimbursed for their participation in the advisory group.

Governance Groups

Scientific Reference Group (SRG)

The Scientific Reference Group (SRG) is comprised of technical and research experts with detailed subject matter knowledge. The SRG contributes expertise and guidance to ensure the successful design and implementation of this important national survey.

The SRG will also provide advice on analysis and reporting of results, and strategies for enhancing the dissemination, impact and reach of the findings and translation into policy and practice.

Governance Groups

National Stakeholder Advisory Group (NSAG)

The National Stakeholder Advisory Group (NSAG) is a national advisory group established to ensure the Young Minds: Our Future study delivers meaningful, policy-relevant outcomes. It brings together key sector stakeholders, with representatives from government departments, child and youth mental health service providers and advocacy groups.