Youth Health Advocate Announced
The Australian Medical Association and the Commonwealth Bank have announced joint sponsorship of a Youth Health Advocate to identify youth health issues and promote healthy living among young Australians.
AMA Federal President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, welcomed the Commonwealth Bank's support for the initiative at a media conference at AMA House in Canberra, also attended by the Commonwealth Bank's Head of Group Corporate Relations, Jill Lester.
"This new role will provide young people with relevant information to help them make informed decisions about their health," Dr Phelps said.
"I am delighted to announce the Commonwealth Bank Group and Australian Medical Association's Youth Health Advocate is Melanie Earl. Ms Earl has many years experience in the area of youth health and policy, most recently working for the Youth Coalition of the ACT."
The Commonwealth Bank Group's Head of Group Corporate Relations, Jill Lester, also congratulated Ms Earl on her appointment.
"We look forward to a successful relationship with Melanie and the AMA. Our involvement with the Youth Health Advocate program is reinforcement of the Group's involvement with the community and its staff through investment in health and medical matters. The Group is a major supporter of causes such as the Breast Cancer Institute, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Children's Cancer Institute Australia, ANZAC Health and Medical Research Foundation and various children's hospitals to name a few."
Dr Phelps said a priority of the Youth Health Advocate Program would be to target rural and remote areas.
"Death rates of young men and women in the isolated parts of Australia are more than double those of young people living in major metropolitan centres. Hospitalisation rates also seem to increase as remoteness increases," she said.
Youth Health Advocate, Melanie Earl, said the AMA was calling for a Federal Office of Youth Affairs to be established to promote and encourage best practice and research in youth health.
"Such an office would play a role in ensuring effective national coordination of youth initiatives and resources," she said.
Ms Earl said she would be developing tailored information kits for young people in rural and remote areas, providing them with up-to-date contact details, including web addresses, on healthcare information.
"I will also be liaising with youth, health and community groups to develop programs on issues such as body image and eating disorders, the well-being of young people in the workforce and better access for all young people to healthcare."
Dr Phelps said the AMA's role in youth health advocacy continued to demonstrate its commitment to improving the health status of young people in the community.