Meet the charities influencing the better health of our young people
![A group of teens talking and walking down the school path A group of teens talking and walking down the school path](https://images.ctfassets.net/hkmafl6harxv/urbYk2Jvl4zozQ1YAbCkf/6eb1e30bfdf51c611f6d0fe2d59bbe56/Secondary_Images_2019_Barrenjoey__15_.jpg?w=480&h=320&f=center&fit=fill&q=100&fm=avif)
We welcome our eight new Health Smart partners who are influencing the health habits of young Aussies and Kiwis so they can live to their fullest every day.
![A group of teens talking and walking down the school path A group of teens talking and walking down the school path](https://images.ctfassets.net/hkmafl6harxv/urbYk2Jvl4zozQ1YAbCkf/6eb1e30bfdf51c611f6d0fe2d59bbe56/Secondary_Images_2019_Barrenjoey__15_.jpg?w=480&h=320&f=center&fit=fill&q=100&fm=avif)
This year, we welcome five Aussie and three Kiwi organisations as our 2022 Health Smart partners who will receive funding totalling $360,000 to aid them in empowering young people to make smarter health choices.
We know that risk factors such as smoking, drinking at risky levels, poor diet, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity are big contributors to the chronic disease burden. Chronic diseases are also the leading cause of early death and living with illness in Australia, yet the good news is that so much of this is preventable, with an estimated 38% of the total disease burden due to modifiable risks.
It’s why we developed our Health Smart grants, to partner with charities who help Australians better understand these risks and the many positive steps they can make every day to help improve their long-term health
The charities will use digital platforms to deliver innovative programs and educational campaigns targeted at youth and young adults on topics, such as: mental health, vaping, sleep, harmful alcohol consumption and risk-related trauma.
For example, we’ve teamed up with Black Dog Institute to help get their Sleep Ninja app into the hands of young people because research suggests that up to 80% of adolescents don’t get their recommended 8-10 hours of sleep each night. By using this evidence informed App, we hope young Australians will adopt healthier sleep behaviours and, in turn, reduce their chances of developing mental health problems often linked to poor sleep.
Meanwhile, Monash University will be using nib foundation’s funding to adapt The Alfred’s ‘Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.)’ Online Program, an initiative of Monash University and Alfred Health’s National Trauma Research Institute. Video content will be developed for high school classroom delivery to extend the reach of this well-established program and help improve students’ awareness and knowledge of the link between risk-taking behaviour and injury.
For the first time, we’re also excited to partner with three Kiwi charities, including digital mental health charity Clearhead, as well as University of Otago and Youthline.
In New Zealand, chronic conditions account for more than 80% of all deaths, yet like Australia, we know a third of this health burden is avoidable.
We’re looking forward to working together with these charities over the next year to help tackle these important issues early and support Kiwis and Australians to protect their long-term health and wellbeing.
Meet our 2022 Health Smart Partners:
Black Dog Institute - Sleep Ninja
Clearhead - Digital tool for finding life purpose
Life Education NSW - Reality Now – Vaping
Live Life Get Active - My Positive Mind
Monash University - The Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) Online Program
University of Otago NZ - Reducing Alcohol Harm in Young People
The Y NSW - Uplift Online
Youthline, opens in a new tab - Empowering young New Zealanders to support their own wellbeing and build resilience
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Young people sharing mental health stories and creating change
In partnership with batyr, we’ve launched OurHerd - designed by and for young people to empower them to share stories of lived experience and create positive change.
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Supporting mental health through Lifeline Text
Lifeline will be able to boost services to young Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through text crisis counselling with the support of our $500,000 donation together with nib.
Smiling Mind launches new Stress Management program
We've partnered with Smiling Mind to launch their new stress management mindfulness meditation program, designed to support Aussies when they're feeling distressed or overwhelmed.