YOUNG PEOPLE NEEDED FOR HEALTHY EATING ADVISORY GROUP
The Ministries of Health and Education are jointly planning a number of initiatives aimed at improving the food and nutrition environment in schools. The Ministries recognise that in order for these initiatives to be successful they need to be informed in a meaningful way by young people.
The New Zealand Association for Adolescent Health and Development (NZAAHD) is a national non-government organisation committed to advocating and supporting innovative and effective policies and programmes in relation to youth health and development.
The Ministry of Health has contracted NZAAHD to establish and facilitate a Youth Advisory Group that will provide the Ministries with youth input around improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and reducing obesity.
What’s involved for group members?
•Members of the Youth Advisory Group will initially be engaged until the end of June 2007 when the group will be reviewed.
•Five days of meetings are scheduled and expected to be held around December 2006 (2 days), March 2007 (2 days) and May 2007 (1 day). Meetings will take into account school commitments.
•Meetings will be held in Wellington. NZAAHD will organise travel, accommodation, supervision and support for the meetings.
•Contact between meetings will be by teleconference, post or email.
What will the group do?
•The group will advise the Ministries of Health and Education on aspects of Healthy Eating – Healthy Action and The Food and Nutrition Guidelines aimed specifically at young people.
•The group can expect to be involved in projects such as initiating youth consultation groups and developing youth-friendly information and/or resources related to improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and reducing obesity.
•The group can also expect space to discuss related issues identified by young people and their communities, and their own interests.
Support for the group:
•All costs of participation within the group will be met by NZAAHD.
•NZAAHD will manage requests from the Ministries in conjunction with group members, and ensure that the workload and expectations of group members is realistic.
•NZAAHD will provide a designated support person for group members, and help to identify and provide training and development opportunities.
•NZAAHD and the Ministry of Health are committed to practicing meaningful youth participation.
Why have a youth advisory group?
•To increase the responsiveness of the Ministries of Health and Education to the Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa
•To increase the responsiveness of the Ministries of Health and Education to young people’s opinions and ideas
•To increase young people’s, influence in youth policy and programme debates
•To improve the appropriateness and success of Ministry of Health initiatives related to Healthy Eating-Healthy Action
•To improve the appropriateness and success of Ministry of Education initiatives related to Food and Nutrition Guidelines
How do young people become involved?
•Any person aged 12-18 can put their name forward before 25 November 2006 by providing info about their interest in youth health, the communities they are connected to, and any relevant experience.
•A selection panel will put together a diverse and representative group of 14 young people from around the country that avoids token measures as much as possible.
•Young people who are not able to be included in the final group will be provided with information about other ways they can become involved with this or similar youth participation projects.
For more information:
See www.nzaahd.org.nz
See www.moh.govt.nz/healthyeatinghealthyaction
APPLICATIONS DUE BY 25 NOVEMBER 2006
