Posted on 4th March 2025
Youth Solutions Turn on the Light campaign supports youth wellbeing
With Youth Solutions’ Turn on the Light campaign in full swing, the youth charity is reminding the community there’s plenty of things they can do to create positive change in their lives and the lives of their peers.
Turn on the Light, developed in partnership with Campbelltown Catholic Club, aims to help young people take care of themselves and support their peers around drug, alcohol and wellbeing issues, with a particular focus on reducing stigma and barriers to help-seeking.
The campaign runs alongside the Health Pro+ project, particularly targeting those studying in medical, health, youth and community service fields by utilising education, skill-building and connections to help change the landscape of care and support for young people. The goal is to ‘Turn on the Light’ for change and enable future generations of young people to receive better care and assistance around drug, alcohol and related issues.
Youth Solutions CEO Geraldine Dean urged the community to embrace the campaign in a meaningful way.
“There’s plenty of things we all can do to support young people around drug and alcohol issues and their wellbeing,” she said. “We’re encouraging young people to look out for one another. We’re supporting those entering caring professions to upskill and connect to support to provide better care for these issues. We’re asking everyone to think about how they can challenge stigma to help people be able to access support, without judgement, when they need it. Whether you are a young person, or you have a young person in your life personally or professionally, there are things you can do that can help make positive change so people can receive better care around these issues.”.
Mrs Dean said the Turn on the Light campaign focused on how to recognise if someone was in need of help, how to chat to them about these issues, and where to turn for support. “It also focuses on the need to reflect and practice self-care, especially when supporting others through complex issues. At the core of the campaign, is also a focus on being mindful of how to avoid judgement and stigmatising language, which can make it harder for young people to seek help for drug, alcohol and mental health issues.”
Campbelltown Catholic Club CEO Michael Lavorato said the club welcomed the opportunity to partner with Youth Solutions to deliver the Turn on the Light campaign.
“Our club cares about our community and campaigns such as Turn on the Light ensures the wellbeing of the community is a priority,” he said. “We encourage everyone to tune into the Turn on the Light campaign. Look out for yourself, your neighbours and make positive change in our community.”
Youth Solutions Health Promotion Officer & Educator, Shannon with our student intern, Jade at a Turn on the Light outreach
Some of the top Turn on the Light campaign tips:
Connect with the campaign:
Need help to navigate support options? Reach out to Youth Solutions on 02 4628 2319, via email to info@youthsolutions.com.au or send us a message on one of our social media platforms.
