Last week, we had the privilege of engaging with two dedicated groups—regional stakeholders and passionate young advocates—committed to enhancing youth mental health policy in the Nepean Blue Mountains region. These sessions were conducted as part of the Right Care, First Time, Where You Live program, funded by the BHP Foundation and led by the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney.
Super User Training Workshop: Equipping Stakeholders with System Dynamics Tools
We facilitated an interactive Super User Training Workshop designed to equip stakeholders in youth mental health with the expertise to navigate and utilize our system dynamics simulation model effectively. This model, developed for the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network (Wentworth Healthcare Limited) catchment area, offers an evidence-based approach to mental health care planning and policy development.
Participants engaged in scenario-based exploration of service capacity and system-level interventions, fostering data-driven decision-making. The enthusiasm and collaboration displayed during the session reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring this tool supports enhanced service planning and improved mental health outcomes for young people in the region.
We extend our sincere appreciation to all participants for their contributions to these valuable discussions. We look forward to witnessing how this tool continues to inform policy and service planning.
Youth Advocacy and Systems Modelling: A New Paradigm for Change
Additionally, we had the opportunity to collaborate with a remarkable group of young advocates who demonstrated that systems thinking extends beyond academia and policymaking—it is a vital tool for individuals striving to make a tangible impact on youth mental health.
These Systems Modelling Champions contributed insightful perspectives on transforming complex models into impactful advocacy tools. The voices of lived experience are crucial in ensuring that systems models accurately represent real-world challenges and opportunities for meaningful change. Their input reinforced that youth participation is not merely an adjunct to policy development but a fundamental component of sustainable transformation.
We are eager to sustain this momentum and further illustrate that systems modelling is a key instrument in advancing mental health advocacy. Together, we are not only conceptualizing a better future for youth mental health—we are actively constructing it.
Acknowledgments
This initiative would not be possible without the support of the BHP Foundation and our regional partners at Wentworth Healthcare Limited.
We remain committed to pushing boundaries, fostering collaboration, and demonstrating the transformative power of systems thinking in shaping the future of youth mental health.
Let’s learn Systems Modelling together!
I share useful information about Systems Modelling here weekly.