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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advice for Young People

Online Safety

 

It is never OK for someone to share or threaten to share your intimate photo or video without your consent. If someone does, this may be a serious crime. There is a big difference between consensual, legal sexting, and image-based abuse. During the COVID19 crisis young people have reported more cases of image-based abuse than ever before so we created a resource with our friends at Youth Law Australia to help you stay safe online.
It includes a list of youth services you can reach out to for support if you are unsure or just need to speak to someone. If you’re worried about something you have sent or received you can access 24/7 free and confidential legal advice from Youth Law Australia
https://yla.org.au/
Download the poster by clicking on the image below.

 

Covid-19 is affecting everyone. The way we live, work and play is going to look different for a while. We created a resource with our friends at Yfoundations to explain these changes in an accessible format. Download the poster by clicking on the image above. We know there are still many questions and information is constantly being released. We have created this resource page so that you can quickly access information you might need. We have broken it down into different categories to help you find the resources you are looking for. 

 

 

 

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Health 

 

                                                                                  

With physical distancing in place, you might be noticing that your daily routine has changed. It's important to keep some balance in your life and that includes looking after both your physical and mental wellbeing. While it’s extra important at this time, it can feel more difficult due to restrictions. There are online services which may be able to help you.
Below we have compiled some lists of some useful online resources that can help you navigate the health system. We have tried to break it down into different topics to make it easier to see what is available.

 

General Health and COVID-19 information

 

 

 

Self-care is very important, particularly in times of stress. Make sure you reach out and talk to people you trust. While we are encouraged to physically distance ourselves, we do not have to socially distance ourselves.

 

 

Mental Health & Well-Being 

 

 

Mental Health Resources for Self Care During the COVID-19 Crisis

 

Resources to Maintain Well-being and Mindfulness

 

build your employment, educational and community prospects-

Build your Employment, Education & Community Prospects

 

        

Studies show that young people’s mental health has been impacted heavily by COVID-19. The weight of this impact will continue to be felt during Australia’s recovery. 
Three factors that directly affect youth mental health are:
  1. Unemployment
  2. Completion of education & training
  3. Connection, with friends, family & services
We are all feeling these disruptions and the strong emotions associated with them. This is a normal response to an abnormal situation. We have added this section to include resources to help you develop your employment, education & community prospects. 

 

Need help now?
contact:
Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
Support services:
Q Life - 1800 184 527
eheadspace - 1800 650 890 or visit eheadspace.org.au
 

Employment & Education Resources

  • edx.org Edx offers lots of courses on different topics, all run by universities around the world (like MIT, Australian National University, University of Sydney, Harvard, Berkeley etc). You can do them for free, or you can pay a small amount and get a certification when you complete the course to put on your resume! 
  • tafensw.edu.au/fee-free-short-courses TAFE NSW is offering free short courses throughout COVID however there are some eligibility requirements (you must be over 17 years or contact them to apply if you’re under 17). The courses offered are around administration skills, digital content, health and medical knowledge, leadership and business skills.  
  • coursera.org Like Edx, coursera has lots of university-based courses available online free! You can add any courses you complete to your resume or just use them to build on your interest in different areas. Coursera also has creative courses, like photography, writing and art.  
  • deakin.edu.au/study-online/free-online-courses Deakin university have free online courses on sustainability and development, online learning, strategic innovation, professional skills, and caring for older people.  
  • skillshare.com Skillshare has 2 months free when you join. There are boundless creative skill classes available online for all those amazing creatives out there.  
  • coursera.org/learn/careerdevelopment English for Career Development is a course designed for everyone but also includes those who speak English as a second language. It addresses how to enter the job market, white a cover letter, resumes, and networking.  
  • themuse.com/advice The Muse is a great job information website, it is based in America but has heaps of blog posts and articles about how to improve your resume, deal with a career change, interview tips, how to manage people or deal with bad management, and all sorts of very useful job stuff. You can also pay a small amount for a career coach.  
  • resntutoring.com.au Regional Education Support Network provide free online tutoring for young people learning from home in regional or remote areas of NSW and Victoria.  

 

Community Resources

  • reachout.com Reach Out have a big list of online communities available for young people to reduce feeling isolated and share in community connectedness.  
  • childmind.org/wethriveinside We Thrive Inside has a bunch of videos from famous people supporting young people during COVID-19. There are also links to Telehealth and online resources to help young people.  
  • The Office of ACYP NSW Advocate for Children and Young People has created the Digital Lunchbreak website to help young people find things to do in their spare time. There are a list of digital resources to access.
  • AIME is an Imagination Factory that since 2005, has been creating pop-up Imagination Factories on university campuses around the world to unlock the internal narrative of young people, taking them from a world that tells them they can’t to a world that tells them they can. They have great written articles and videos for young people, check them out.
  •  emergency.volunteer.org.au was created by the Department of Communities & Justice together with The Centre for Volunteering to link people to volunteering opportunities during times of emergency such as COVID-19 and the recent bushfires. There are many opportunities to provide extra support to organisations that need a hand during an emergency, not just RFS or emergency services.
  • resilienceinkids.com.au  in order to support families in the current challenging environment and to celebrate Youth Fest, City of Sydney in partnership with Resilience in Kids and Dr Kristy Goodwin, has put together a series of free workshops.
  • oneeighty.org.au has made their support program Open Up available online. Open Up is a free local peer support program developed by One Eighty to fill a gap in the mental health care sector. A time and space created by young people for young people to practise skills of sharing, listening, connecting with others, and asking for help.

 

Some other things you can do at home are: 

  • Setting up an arts space 
  • Set up a ‘help available’ box or table outside your home or on the street for the community 
  • Get involved in youth radio
  • Join a youth advisory group through your local council
  • Promote causes you are passionate about, for example; issues about the environment, rights for refugees, bushfire recovery and charity work. 

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Employment & Financial Assistance

 

 

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Employment Rights & Obligations

 

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Homelessness Services & Family Violence Support

 

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If you are feeling unsafe or experiencing any abuse or violence at home you can contact these services to talk about it. If you need to speak to someone the Domestic Violence line is free and staffed 25 hours, 7 days a week. Call them for free T 1800 65 64 63 or call 1800 RESPECT for free on T 1800 737 732

 

 

 

 

For current health advice on COVID-19 keep up to date through the WHO website, and the NSW Health Website

 

Need Help?

Call Youth Action

   

 

If you require extra support or just need to talk it out with someone. Call Youth Action's Youth Sector Development Manager Freya for support or assistance (02) 8354 3700

 

 

Useful Resources 

 

Frequently updated World Health Organisation information on COVID-19 
Frequently updated NSW Health information on COVID-19