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Health and well-being
Young people face a broad range of issues as they move to adulthood. Even with good parenting and role modelling, adolescence is generally a time for trying risky behaviours. It’s very normal for them to want more independence, experience changes to their bodies and feelings, have relationships and think about and/or have sexual intercourse, explore their sexuality or gender identity, experiment with alcohol and other drugs, consider higher education and find a job.
The following links can provide information and guidance on these topics.
Health Pathway
- OOHC Health Pathway
- Caseworkers guide (PDF, 849.7 KB)
- Local health districts
GPs and health care cards
- Find a General Practitioner (GP) in NSW
- Medicare Card
- Health Care Card and low income health care card
- How to access medical records or information
Youth health
- Youth Health Services
- Teen Health – provides information on a range of topics from A-Z
- Teens health and well-being
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services
- Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
Counselling and mental health services
- Relationships Australia
- Headspace
- Youth Solutions
- Crossroads Youth and Family Counselling
- Black Dog Institute
- Weave Youth and Community Services
- Uniting Child and Youth Counselling
- KYDS Sydney
- Youth Beyond Blue
- Kids Helpline - Free confidential counselling for young people up to 25 years, over the phone, through email or on web chat
- Lifeline Australia
- Emerging Minds - a learning and resource hub for people working directly with children and young people. Focuses on early intervention and mental health.
Emotional and social well-being
- Worrytime App
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- What is self harm
- Resilience in teenagers: how to build it
- Resilience for teens – Teen Health ages 12-17
- Peer pressure
- Peer pressure and fitting in
- Frenemies and toxic relationships
- Assertiveness for teens
- Signs of an abusive relationship
- Bullying
- Cyberbullying
- Exam stress and coping strategies for exams
- Self talk and self awareness – the way you talk and feel about yourself
Sexual health, sexual identity and family planning
- Reach out
- Sexual Health InfoLink - answers to questions about sexual health including HIV and sexually transmitted infections
- Teenage relationships: romance and intimacy
- Understanding sex: risks, health and contraception
- Lawstuff – age of consent in NSW
- Sexual Health Plus
- ACON – Health Promotion organisation specialising in HIV prevention, HIV support and LGBTQI health
- LGBTQI community services and organisations
- Sexuality
- Gender
- Gender identity and mental health
- Minus 18 - Youth-led organisation for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth offering online resources and support services, social events for under-18s, and mentoring
- Twenty 10 - A community-based support service for young people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex
- A parents’ guide to their child’s sexuality
- Common questions about sexuality and gender
- Family planning
Smoking, alcohol and other drugs
- Australian Drug Information Network (ADIN)
- Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS)
- Binge-drinking: teenagers
- Drugs – Reachout
- I can quit smoking
- Quit now smoking
- Risky behaviours in teenagers: how to handle it
See also
Last updated:
16 Feb 2023
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We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Nations Peoples of NSW and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future.
Informed by lessons of the past, Department of Communities and Justice is improving how we work with Aboriginal people and communities. We listen and learn from the knowledge, strength and resilience of Stolen Generations Survivors, Aboriginal Elders and Aboriginal communities.
You can access our apology to the Stolen Generations.