Building connections: young voices amplified by youth board
A year on from its establishment, the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) met every month in 2024 with a primary goal in mind: to provide a voice for young staff members across the district. The board, which now has 12 members across various clinical and non-clinical roles, continued to provide a forum for young people aged between 18 and 35-years-old to have a connection to the district’s senior leadership team. Leading the charge for the board were co-chairs James Boland, a graduate health management trainee, and Rhiannon Campton, a patient services administration manager. James and Rhiannon played a pivotal in establishing the board and have since played a major role in directing the board and its future direction. Reflecting on the past year of leading the board, James said the experience had been very rewarding and had opened the door to working with staff members from various professional backgrounds. “I’ve really enjoyed meeting and working with staff across the district, gaining exposure to experiences and perspectives I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” he said. Rhiannon said the board had provided a platform for the
Youth Advisory Board co-chairs James Boland and Rhiannon Campton
professionally diverse group to foster a collaborative environment. “The collaborative environment of the youth advisory board has fostered a fantastic spirit of teamwork and innovation, allowing us to leverage diverse perspectives and expertise to drive meaningful change,” she said. “What I’ve enjoyed most about working on the board is the chance to plant a seed or idea and watch it grow, especially in the area of professional development.” Speaking on the future of the board, James said the group would keep working with senior leaders to provide representation for younger staff members on decisions that may affect them.
“We will continue to work with and consult senior leaders to provide
our perspective,” he said. “There has been so much
progress made and there are so many opportunities that are emerging for professional development and social connection within NSLHD.” In 2025, James will be passing the baton of Co-Chair to Graduate Health Management Trainee Eamon O’Callaghan, who expressed his excitement about joining the board. “I’m excited to continue the great work that James has done on the board and contribute to making NSLHD a great place to work for younger staff.”
49 NSLHD 2024 Year in Review
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