Youth Insearch Reception and Leaders' Graduation Ceremony, Admiralty House

[E&OE]

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present, emerging leaders and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders gathered here today.

Good morning, everyone.

Welcome to Admiralty House for the Youth Insearch Reception and Leaders’ Graduation Ceremony.

Linda and I are delighted to host this celebratory and significant event.

Celebratory because it enables us to acknowledge and congratulate the Youth Insearch team on the critically important work they are doing in the community.

Celebratory because it is graduation day for our Youth Insearch Leaders.

And, significant, because this week is End Youth Suicide Week, an opportunity to raise awareness about an important issue.

As I say, we’re delighted to have you all here and also to be able to hold an in-person event.

I’ve engaged with Youth Insearch as Patron for several years now and have seen the remarkable changes its work and compassion brings about in young lives.

We’ll hear about some of those changes shortly from the other speakers.

Suffice it to say the results achieved by Youth Insearch make me optimistic about our future.

To date, Youth Insearch has helped more than 32,000 vulnerable youth turn their lives around.

That’s not to say that all problems are solved. The problem of youth suicide, in particular, remains. Suicide is the major killer of Australians aged between 15 and 24.

That statistic is both alarming and heart-breaking. Teenagers, young men and women, lost to their families and the community. The impact of that loss spreads far and wide.

It is our collective responsibility to end youth suicide.

This is the fourth year of the Youth Insearch End Youth Suicide campaign. Its message this year, during End Youth Suicide Week, is key to helping reduce the incidence of suicide in our community:

‘To encourage young people to defy the stigma associated with mental health and to talk openly about suicide with their friends, families and communities.’

As a parent, I know that not all teenagers want to pour their heart out. Many teenagers want to keep their feelings to themselves. I understand that. But can I also say that there is NO shame in speaking up.

It doesn’t have to be to a parent. I encourage anyone who is struggling with their mental health to share their feelings with their GP, or a family member, friend, work colleague or the wonderful people at Youth Insearch.

To those graduating today. Well done. Graduating is not easy. It means both a State Program Council and the National Program Council have considered you and granted accreditation!

In my recent Australia Day Address I spoke about my optimism for Australia’s future.

That optimism is based on evidence – example after example of outstanding work undertaken by Australians from all walks of life and fields of endeavour every single day.

People who are determined, supportive, kind and compassionate.

People who make it their life’s mission to improve the health and wellbeing of those around them.

I’m looking at some of those people right now – the good people involved with Youth Insearch.

Thank you for what you do.

[Ends]