headspace Youth National Reference Group

Apply to be a Youth Lived Experience Advisor on the headspace Youth National Reference Group

The headspace Youth National Reference Group (hY NRG, pronounced “high energy”) is a casual employment opportunity for 20 diverse young people aged 18-25yrs from across Australia.  

As Youth Lived Experience Advisors, young people will shape headspace’s governance and the design, delivery and evaluation of our programs and services.  

We’re looking for young people who: 

  • are passionate about youth mental health  

  • have accessed support from a mental health service and want to use this experience to improve outcomes for young people (e.g. headspace centre or online services, wellbeing supports in an education setting, mental health support from doctor / general practitioner, private counselling, or support from a public mental health service). 

  • are looking for a meaningful and supportive role where you can make a difference while building your skills, experience and networks  

If this sounds like you, we’d love you to apply to be a Youth Lived Experience Advisor at headspace National! 

Apply Now

We are keen to hear from young people from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, identities and locations across Australia: 

  • Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander 

  • Are from multicultural backgrounds 

  • Identify as LGBTQIA+ 

  • Are living with a disability or chronic illness 

  • Live in a regional, rural or remote community 

  • Identify as young men 

headspace is committed to involving young people and family in priority areas affecting youth mental health and wellbeing. If you are interested in contributing your lived experience to the areas below, we are also keen to hear from you.  

  • Harm minimisation support areas (e.g. use of alcohol and other drugs, gambling, pornography) 

  • Work & study support 

  • Online mental health and wellbeing support (such as eheadspace) 

  • Family, domestic or sexual violence 

  • Eating disorders or disordered eating 

We’re also looking for a range of volunteer and professional experience, including young people who may have never been a part of an advisory group or worked in a Lived Experience role before. Check out our FAQs below for more information.

 

Learn more about the role

Join an information session

Interested, but want to learn more? Attend one of our upcoming webinars to hear from some of our current hY NRG members on what it’s all about. 

 

Key dates

  • Applications open: Friday 14 August 2026 

  • Applications close: 11:59pm AEST Sunday 20 September 

  • Shortlisting and booking interviews: September/October 2026 

  • Group interviews: October 2026 

  • 2nd round interviews and reference checks: November 2026 

  • Successful candidates notified: December 2026 

  • Onboarding and credentialling: January 2027 

  • Role commences: Monday 1 February 2027 

  • In-person Orientation in Naarm / Melbourne: 12 March - 14 March 2027 

  • Role concludes: Friday 22 December 2028 

 

Apply now

Frequently asked questions

  • Paid casual role for 20 young people aged 18-25 from across Australia 

  • Opportunity to provide lived experience and youth perspectives to inform, advise and co-create a range of work across headspace National. 

  • 2 year term starting February 2027 to December 2028 

  • Regular online and in-person meetings, workshops and training, as well as additional opportunities. 

As part of hY NRG, you will provide lived experience and expertise to inform, advise and co-create a range of work across headspace National. A few of the different opportunities you could be part of include:

  • Joining a governance committee, advisory group, or project teams
  • Participating in consultations, workshops, and focus groups
  • Presenting at conferences, events, or in traditional media
  • Advising on staff recruitment and interview panels
  • Reviewing and shaping practice guides, resources, or policies
  • Contributing to website, or social media content

There are many opportunities for hY NRG members to get involved with! You don't need to have previous experience, and headspace will provide training and support for you to take part.

The great thing about the hY NRG role is it's flexible, based off your interests, experiences, and availability.

There are so many benefits to being on hY NRG!

  • Get paid to contribute your lived experience and expertise on youth mental health
  • Shape headspace governance, programs and services
  • Opportunity to travel for work where required (don't worry, this is paid for by headspace)
  • Training in sharing lived experience, safe storytelling and more
  • Networking with Lived Experience staff and other professionals within the youth mental health sector
  • Being able to set your own workload around other commitments (with some minimum requirements)

You can apply for hY NRG if you:

  • Have the right to live and work in Australia
  • Are a young person aged between 18-25 years as of 1 February 2027
  • Have experience accessing support from a mental health service (e.g. headspace centre or online services, wellbeing supports in an education setting, mental health support from doctor / general practitioner, private counselling, or support from a public mental health service).
  • Are passionate about youth mental health and committed to working constructively with headspace to improve outcomes for young people.
  • Are willing to safely share your perspectives, as informed by your lived experience as a young person and mental health service user, with appropriate supports in place.
  • Hold or are willing to obtain a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) for your home state or territory and undergo a Police check
  • Send us an email: If you have a questions about the hY NRG role or application process, please contact participation@headspace.org.au or call (03) 9027 0100 and ask for the Participation team. 
  • Interested, but want to learn more? Attend one of our upcoming webinars to hear from some of our current hY NRG members on what it’s all about. 

 

To Apply Click here