Beau and Jenny Project Support Officers (Youth)
Metro South Health has welcomed two new Project Support Officers (Youth), Jenny Zheng and Beau Wharton, who are working to amplify the voices of young people in healthcare planning.
Both Jenny and Beau will play a key role in supporting the newly established Youth Advisory Council (YAC), a diverse group of young people who will provide advice and insights to help improve health services for their generation.
For Jenny, who is currently completing a Master of Public Health, the role offered a chance to turn her own experiences with health challenges into something meaningful.
“Having overcome various health issues throughout the years, I had kind of accepted my struggles as part of my personal narrative and something to just move on from,” she said.
“This opportunity challenged me to think otherwise. I’m super excited to build relationships with the young people we’ve chosen for the YAC. We’ve got such a passionate and thoughtful group together.”
Beau, who brings experience from outside the health sector, said the position combined their passion for making positive change with the opportunity to learn and contribute a fresh perspective.
“My main goal with the Youth Advisory Council is to create a space for young people to be heard, and have their say in a way that matters,” they said.
“I’m most looking forward to seeing how the YAC evolves over time, and how Metro South Health welcomes their experience and feedback.”
Both Jenny and Beau agree that young voices are critical in shaping better care.
“Young people make up a sizeable proportion of Metro South Health’s community, yet they are often underrepresented in healthcare planning,” Jenny explained.
“This can leave them feeling overlooked in a system where they should be cared for.”
Beau added that giving young people the platform to advocate for themselves will lead to more accessible and inclusive services.
“Having young consumers speak for and advocate for themselves is so important, it will help identify what’s missing and guide changes that really make a difference.”
With Jenny and Beau at the helm, the Youth Advisory Council is set to create stronger connections between Metro South Health and the young people it serves ensuring their voices shape the future of healthcare.