How marginalised young people navigate the Australian health system

Abstract

The research program that forms the foundation of this thesis examined the ways in which young people aged 12–24 years access, navigate and experience the Australian health system. It is the first research program to explore in both depth and breadth young people’s access to all parts of the health system and to consider the experience of multiple marginalised groups. This body of work includes two components: 1. An international systematic review examining How marginalized young people access, engage with and navigate healthcare systems in the digital age. 2. A report on Access 3, a multifaceted, mixed methods project funded by NSW Health to inform the development of youth health policy. The systematic review identified that marginalised young people accessing healthcare experience barriers additional to those common to all young people. To date, the literature has examined marginalised groups individually, and few studies have focused on health system navigation or the role of technology. The Access 3 project involved four parts: • Study 1 – a cross-sectional survey exploring barriers to healthcare access for young people • Study 2 – in-depth, longitudinal, qualitative interviews with marginalised young people who are living in rural/remote areas; experiencing homelessness; Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; sexuality and/or gender diverse; and/or have a refugee background; • Study 3 – a cross-sectional qualitative study to explore the views of healthcare professionals; and • a Policy Translation Forum to identify policy solutions. The outcomes of this body of work include a series of publications of significance to clinicians, policymakers, young people and their advocates. Research outcomes include a direct impact on the NSW Youth Health Framework 2017-2024. The research increases our understanding of how marginalised young people navigate the Australian health system within the digital age.