National Press Club this week: Inspire-led Cooperative Research Centre for Young People, Technology and Wellbeing

15 August 2011

Technology and new media have dramatically changed the way in which young people interact with their world, shaping relationships and redefining ‘being connected’. Social media can deeply influence their happiness, and how successful they are at school, employment and with friends. The flip side of the technology revolution is the rise of serious challenges for young people: cyberbullying, social isolation and discrimination.

Chief Executive Officer of the new Inspire-led Cooperative Research Centre for Young People, Technology and Wellbeing (YAW-CRC), Associate Professor Jane Burns, will explore these challenges and outline YAW-CRC's plans to tackle them, at an address to the National Press Club in Canberra this Thursday, 18 August at 12.30pm. The topic of her address is The Happiness Highway: Leveraging technologies to improve wellbeing for young Australians.

Assoc Prof Burns and Inspire's Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Nicholas, will then take part in an open forum discussion with Prof Ian Hickie AM (Executive Director of the Brain & Mind Research Institute), Prof Pat McGorry AO (Executive Director of Orygen Youth Health and 2010 Australian of the Year), and Michelle Blanchard (emerging research leader in the field of young people, technology and wellbeing).

The forum is free to attend, however you must register to reserve your place.

FORUM DETAILS2.00pm-3:30pm, Thursday, 18 August, 2011National Press Club, 16 National Circuit, Barton

Assoc Prof Burns' National Press Club address will be broadcast live on ABC News 24 at 12.30pm on 18 August 2011. Check your local guide for details.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Young People, Technology and Wellbeing (YAW-CRC), led by the Inspire Foundation, unites young people with researchers, practitioners and innovators from 70 partner organisations across the not-for-profit, academic, government and corporate sector. Through an international research agenda, YAW-CRC will create tools and strategies for young people aged 12-25 to participate safely and confidently online, so that all young Australians grow up safe, happy, healthy and resilient.