13 October 2026
This International Adolescent Health Week (link: https://iaah.org/iahw/) young people and specialists are calling for a rethink to the way health care is delivered for young people aged 10-24 years as they navigate the healthcare system.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has recently launched a position statement on Youth Appropriate Health Care, which was developed in partnership with the College’s first-ever Youth Advisory Group.
Professor Simon Denny, Chair of the RACP Youth Appropriate Health Care Working Group, says this position statement is meant to challenge the current system and offer a vision of what equitable health care should look like.
“Adolescent and young adult healthcare services are significantly under resourced, especially in adult hospitals, where the focus remains heavily on older adults.
“This is because specialist care operates in an outdated “child” or “adult” binary, which isn’t helpful for young people who fall somewhere in between.
“Adolescents and young adults require specialised services that address their unique needs, from their developing autonomy to their mental, social, and physical well-being. It’s a unique period of life and young people at the moment are poorly supported when they need specialist care.
“Governments must take the lead in reforming healthcare for young people by funding multidisciplinary teams that offer integrated medical and psychosocial care in hospitals – particularly in adult hospitals, where services for young adults are virtually non-existent, and in regional, rural and remote areas.
“Grouping young people into their own medical wards and clinics creates a space where their physical, mental, and social health needs are met in a comprehensive, integrated manner. It also facilitates better continuity of care, as young people remain in an environment that understands and caters to their age-specific needs.
“This approach ultimately creates a more efficient system that provides better care at a lower cost.
“When young people are placed in dedicated spaces where their needs are better understood and addressed, we reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and prevent long-term health complications.
“Healthcare professionals working in these specialised wards and clinics must be fully trained in adolescent and young adult health. This includes not only medical expertise but also the ability to provide psychosocial support, as young people often experience distinct emotional and social challenges during their healthcare journey.
“By creating dedicated wards and clinics for young people, we’re not just offering better healthcare – we’re providing them with a space that recognises their uniqueness, helps them thrive, and ultimately eases their transition into adulthood.
“We must shift towards a system that is built around the needs of young people, ensuring they receive appropriate, compassionate care every step of the way,” says Professor Denny.
Ellie Buchan, a member of the Youth Advisory Group, says there must be meaningful, sustained collaboration between clinicians, policy makers and consumers to facilitate long-term change.
“When we look at this position statement in five or ten years’ time, it shouldn’t be the same. It should reflect changes made, and there should be performance indicators and benchmarks to keep healthcare systems accountable.
“We all want to feel represented and listened to, and the way healthcare is delivered should be reflective of our experience. Right now, we don’t fit in anywhere, but we want that to change.
“Decisions that are made will have a profound impact on future generations of young people.
“We have a shared responsibility to make it a positive one,” says Ms Buchan.
Read the full position statement here: racp-youth-appropriate-health-care.pdf