Seven steps to Youth Empowerment

Step 1: Level One Introductory Workshop

An introduction to the MindMatters Resource Kit and the concept of a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

This workshop is highly recommended as preparation for staff supporting Student Empowerment/YEP.

Step 2: Level Two Planning Workshop

This workshop is for school core teams (including an executive leader) with experience of MindMatters. It develops a school action plan and looks at how to encourage student leadership, and measure progress and outcomes.

This workshop is strongly recommended in building a whole school plan which will ultimately support and sustain student empowerment in mental health promotion.

Step 3: Focus Module: Student Empowerment

This focus module is for teams of school staff, students and community members and agency staff. It looks at the benefits of authentically engaging students in mental health promotion. Participants begin developing an action plan to build capacity for student empowerment.

The MindMatters Youth Empowerment Process (MM YEP) is introduced - this process has been created by young people for young people, to further develop and foster the leadership role of students in mental health promotion.

Step 4: Preparation for Youth Empowerment Process meeting

This is a half-day meeting or a series of smaller meetings between MindMatters and the school’s student empowerment working group. It supports the planning for participation in the MindMatters YEP Workshop.

Participating in the Student Empowerment Focus Module and Prep for YEP meeting are prerequisites for the two-day student led MindMatters YEP Workshop. 

Step 5: The Youth Empowerment Process Workshop

Facilitated by trained students and based on the current MindMatters classroom resources, these sessions support young people to explore issues that have an impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

Student-led discussions form the basis of an action plan on which the students continue working with the support of the Student Empowerment Working Group and school community.

Step 6: Taking action

Post 2 day YEP workshop

Dedicated time allocated with the student leaders and Student Empowerment Working Group to negotiate and identify specific action areas within the school. The school provides ongoing support to the student leadership group in implementing action plans.

MindMatters offers a one day professional development workshop for students and staff interested in facilitating future in-school YEP workshops. The aim is to further their understanding and use of the YEP Student Facilitator Manual and Taking Action Tools. 

Step 7: Optional forum

Youth Empowerment Process Reconnector Forum

This half day forum involves schools sharing their experiences and learnings. The forum also contributes to a sense of connectedness across school communities. Schools will be invited to document their student empowerment journey to enable their school’s story to be shared on the MindMatters website. 

The forum is a meeting or a series of smaller meetings between MindMatters and the school’s student empowerment working group. It supports the planning for participation in the MindMatters YEP Workshop.

Participating in the Student Empowerment Focus Module and Prep for YEP meeting are prerequisites for the two-day student led MindMatters YEP Workshop.