Young people want to be heard, believed and treated with respect when accessing healthcare.
That was the clear message shared with clinicians during a special education roadshow, focused on understanding and strengthening youth-friendly healthcare.
The Metro South Health Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Health Professional Education Roadshow brought together clinicians, educators and young people with lived experience to share knowledge, challenge perspectives and build confidence in caring for adolescents and young adults.
MSH Youth Advisory Council member Ezra Demsey spoke to their experiences transitioning from paediatric to adult services.
To them, safe healthcare meant having their concerns validated, their medical history respected and their gender identity acknowledged.
"I would like to see clinicians put aside their biases and treat everyone in a positive regard," they said.
A/Director Clinical Governance Millie Chitabwa attended a session and said hearing directly from adolescent consumers was a valuable opportunity to look at transitional care through a fresh lens.
“Some of the issues raised were things that may never have crossed my mind as an adult, particularly the importance of consistently considering psychological safety and how this can shape a young person’s relationship with healthcare,” she said.
“It also reinforced for me that psychological safety is not the same for every young person, even within similar age groups. We need to remain curious, listen to the individual, and avoid assuming that what feels safe and supportive for one young person will feel the same for another.”