Time to switch things up.

Equality at the roundtable. 

Currently, policy discussions, particularly those concerning youth, are often dominated by adults and professionals, with young people being viewed as passive recipients rather than active contributors. The prevailing norm is that youth are often seen as lacking the necessary expertise or experience to engage in complex, strategic conversations about policy reform or service improvement. This results in top-down decision-making, where policies affecting young people are designed for them but not with them.

YOUTHOOD aims to redefine this norm, seeking to position young adults as knowledgeable and capable partners in policy discussions. It promotes a collaborative, level field, where the lived experiences of adolescents are considered equally valuable to the professional expertise of adults, representing a shift towards youth empowerment where both groups co-create strategies and break away from the traditional, adult-centric approach.

YOUTHOOD prefers to refer to the two roles at the roundtable: experienced adolescents and experienced professionals. We look to encourage organisations to debunk the stereotype of young people being unknowledgeable by positioning them as competent experts in their own right on the issues that directly impact them and who are essential members of the decision-making roundtable. Knowledge is not age-dependent but context-dependent. Adolescents have experience living within these systems, while professionals have experience working within them, creating a partnership of mutual expertise.

Let Experience Speak.

Experienced Adolescents refers to young people who have firsthand experience with the systems, services, and policies designed to support them, whether through education, social services, or community involvement. These adolescents have acquired valuable insights, practical knowledge, and lived experiences that make them capable contributors to discussions around improving services and policy.

  • It acknowledges that young people possess relevant, real-world experience and expertise regarding the systems they engage with, challenging the assumption that youth are uninformed or incapable of understanding complex issues.

  • It empowers young adults to be part of the solution, allowing them to contribute innovative ideas and practical feedback to strategies that are meant to support them. Their unique perspective is essential in developing effective, relevant reforms.

  • It emphasises that young adults are not passive recipients of services but are active participants whose voices can enrich discussions on service reform and government legislation. This highlights their capacity to provide insights that adults, policymakers, or service providers may overlook.

Experienced Professionals

Experienced Professionals refers to individuals working within sectors such as education, youth services, policy, or social work, who have extensive expertise and understanding of systemic challenges. These professionals bring a wealth of knowledge, but crucially, their expertise is complementary to the insights of adolescents rather than superior.

It emphasises the collaborative nature of discussions. Professionals are positioned not as authority figures who dictate reform but as partners who work alongside youth, valuing their lived experience equally in decision-making.

It underscores that professionals are there to guide and support but that their role is to facilitate the implementation of strategies informed by both professional insight and adolescent experience.

This terminology shifts the conversation towards an equitable partnership between youth and adults, where both Experienced Adolescents and Experienced Professionals bring valuable insights to the table for improving services and shaping reform strategies.