ReSPECT (Reconceptualising Services from the Perspectives of Experienced Children and Teens): A Co-designed Initiative
Tracks
Conference Centre Room 2
| Wednesday, March 30, 2022 |
| 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM |
Overview
Associate Professor Rebekah Grace, Angelica Ojinnaka, Brendan Cobner & Jonathan Ng , Western Sydney University
Speaker
Mr Brendan Cobner
Change Maker
Western Sydney University
ReSPECT (Reconceptualising Services from the Perspectives of Experienced Children and Teens): A Co-designed Initiative
Abstract
Please see Dr Kelly Baird
Biography
Brendan Cobner is one of the young voices
(Change Makers) on the ReSPECT team,
who is passionate about improving the way
mental health services are delivered. He
has various experiences with mental health
and counselling services on the Central
Coast.
Associate Professor Rebekah Grace
Director, Centre For Transforming Early Education And Child Health
Western Sydney University
ReSPECT (Reconceptualising Services from the Perspectives of Experienced Children and Teens): A Co-designed Initiative
Abstract
Please see Dr Kelly Baird
Biography
Associate Professor Rebekah Grace is the Director of the Centre for Transforming early Education and Child Health (TeEACH) at Western Sydney University, and Chief Investigator on the ReSPECT Project. Rebekah’s program of research gives focus to the service and support needs of people who experience adversity or marginalisation. She employs a cross-disciplinary research approach, including participatory and co-design methodologies to ensure the inclusion of child voice in decision making. Rebekah is committed to conducting high quality research that is directly meaningful in policy and practice contexts.
Mrs Samia Michail
Lecturer - School of Social Sciences
Western Sydney University
ReSPECT (Reconceptualising Services from the Perspectives of Experienced Children and Teens): A Co-designed Initiative
Abstract
The ReSPECT Project is currently underway within NSW. This research contributes the perspectives of young people to the debate on service reform. It employs a participatory and co-design methodology, engaging young people in the re-envisioning of the service system, and in the development and trial of youth-led service initiatives. It also explores organisational barriers to including young people in policy debate and service decision-making. The ReSPECT Project is being conducted in partnership with Uniting, Carers NSW and Winangay. It is one of the first research projects in Australia to follow the development of youth-led service ideas from development through to implementation and evaluation.
In 2019-2020 we worked with five groups of young people to understand their experiences of services, and to scaffold each group in the development of one service initiative that they would like to see taken forward within their local area. These ideas were presented to local service providers at a ‘Pitch Day’. Our workshop will give particular focus to one ‘pitch’ that was directly related to the provision of mental health services. The idea developed by the young people has been taken up and will be implemented by Uniting, under a governance structure that includes young people.
Our workshop will present the ReSPECT model of engagement with young people and with service organisations, outlining the steps used in the project to meaningfully engage with young people in service design. It explores how participatory and co-design principles (as opposed to consultation), were applied to support the engagement of young people in decision making and governance structures, and how to understand and address the organisational barriers that stand in the way of meaningful child and youth engagement. Our workshop will be delivered in partnership with Uniting, and co-presented with a representative from the ReSPECT Change Makers group (youth participant).
In 2019-2020 we worked with five groups of young people to understand their experiences of services, and to scaffold each group in the development of one service initiative that they would like to see taken forward within their local area. These ideas were presented to local service providers at a ‘Pitch Day’. Our workshop will give particular focus to one ‘pitch’ that was directly related to the provision of mental health services. The idea developed by the young people has been taken up and will be implemented by Uniting, under a governance structure that includes young people.
Our workshop will present the ReSPECT model of engagement with young people and with service organisations, outlining the steps used in the project to meaningfully engage with young people in service design. It explores how participatory and co-design principles (as opposed to consultation), were applied to support the engagement of young people in decision making and governance structures, and how to understand and address the organisational barriers that stand in the way of meaningful child and youth engagement. Our workshop will be delivered in partnership with Uniting, and co-presented with a representative from the ReSPECT Change Makers group (youth participant).
Biography
Samia Michail is a Lecturer in Social Work at the School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University, completing her doctoral studies as part of the ReSPECT Project. She has over 20 years’ experience in academia and service provision, and held undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research positions across several universities. Samia has also worked with children and young people in the non-government sector and state government. Her research interests are participatory research methodologies, children’s wellbeing, and participatory rights to determine that wellbeing. She is keen to explore how social structures and processes can sustain child voice for children and young people.
Mr Jonathan Ng
Research Project Officer
Western Sydney University
ReSPECT (Reconceptualising Services from the Perspectives of Experienced Children and Teens): A Co-designed Initiative
Abstract
Please see Dr Kelly Baird
Biography
Jonathan Ng is a member of the ReSPECT
project team, and his role is to work with
and alongside young people to amplify
their voices, and to support them in more
meaningful involvement in the decisionmaking
process with service delivery and
access. He uses an emancipatory approach
in conducting research, including
developing meaningful, participatory ways
of interpreting data and creating feedback
loops for service improvement.
Miss Angelica Ojinnaka
Master of Research Candidate
Western Sydney University
ReSPECT (Reconceptualising Services from the Perspectives of Experienced Children and Teens): A Co-designed Initiative
Abstract
Please see Dr Kelly Baird
Biography
Angelica Ojinnaka is an award-winning
youth leader (2021 NSW Premier’s Youth
Medal recipient) and Master of Research
candidate at the Translational Health
Research Institute at Western Sydney
University. Her research stems from her
own multidisciplinary background, focusing
on the areas of psychology, public health,
public policy and sociology.
Angelica’s thesis examines how children
and young people with complex,
interrelated, and chronic needs perceive
the Australian service system, and the
extent to which they are engaged in service
decision-making and reform. Angelica has
worked with national youth and
community organisations in research,
community development, human rights and
youth mental health.
