Page 4428 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2019
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Even when you have the courage, it can be difficult to start the conversation. Just tell someone that you are not feeling okay and want to talk about it. You may lack the words to accurately describe what you are feeling. That is normal. Your own understanding of the situation will often improve and become much clearer as you start discussing it. That happens to everybody. You will learn more about yourself as you go.
Remember, too, that you are not alone. As I mentioned earlier, a quarter of all young people aged 15 to 19 in the ACT report experiencing psychological distress. For some age groups the figure is closer to half. It can be really scary to think that no-one else is experiencing what you are, that there is something uniquely wrong with you. I want to assure you that you are normal. Many of your peers are experiencing the same things right now, and many of us adults have experienced and/or still experience them too.
In addition, I ask that all young people, regardless of their personal situation, try to be a friend. Be the sort of friend someone else can trust. If someone starts talking to you about a problem, do not panic. You do not need to know what to say. Just listen and be kind. Treat the other person the way you would wish to be treated. If you need advice about how to help a friend, ask for it. We are all in this together.
I look forward to seeing the youth aware of mental health program being introduced into Canberra schools in 2020. The federal Liberal government is making this program available as part of its $500 million commitment to young Australians and their families. This program will teach you how to better help yourselves and each other. Please take it seriously. In the meantime, please do not be discouraged. Speak up, seek help and, when you can, be the help that someone else needs. You are important to us.
Schools—reconciliation action plan
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Deputy Chief Minister, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Women) (6.37): I take this opportunity to congratulate the ACT council of P&Cs on the launch of their reconciliation action plan.
Earlier this week I launched the ACT council of P&Cs’ plan. They are the first peak body of P&Cs in the country to develop a reconciliation action plan. I am proud that the ACT public school parents are leading the way. Their reconciliation action plan is a fantastic example of the work they are doing to take action. It shows their commitment to representing the voice of all ACT public school parents, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
The council started this journey when they were invited by the Auditor-General to talk about reconciliation and realised they were not doing enough to understand and include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history. This sparked the council’s drive to better understand and recognise their role in reconciliation. Members of the council executive then completed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
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