Your health, safety and wellbeing
As you become independent, it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This means looking after your mind and body. Learn what supports are available to help you on this journey.
Looking after your physical health
Being healthy means looking after your mind and body. As you get older and start relying on yourself, it’s important to make choices that will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
There are a few things that you can do to stay physically healthy. See the following tips for staying healthy and active.
Regular physical activity is important for healthy growth and development. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. They can reduce your perception of pain, and also trigger a positive feeling in your body. That’s why you can get that ‘feel good’ feeling after exercise.
Eat fresh, nutritious food feeds both your brain and body! It is important to eat food that contains healthy amounts of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, sugars, calcium, vitamins, and minerals. Prepare meals that include plenty of vegetables and keep up your fluid intake by drinking lots of water too.
Alcohol and other drugs alters your mood and behaviour, negatively impacting all aspects of your health. Choosing to reduce your intake or stop using alcohol or other drugs can be a positive choice for you. Sometimes people use alcohol, drugs, or other forms of addictions such as food or gambling to cope with traumatic events that they have experienced. If you notice that your use of alcohol and other drugs is changing who you are, there is lots of support around. You just need to be willing to take the first step to change your behaviour. Visit the NSW Health website to see a list of alcohol and other drug information, support and treatment available to you.
Looking after your emotional and mental wellbeing
Understanding your emotions and how you react to experiences is part of staying emotionally healthy. It is also about understanding how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours affect your emotions and how to build healthy relationships between yourself and others.
Sometimes we can be reminded of painful experiences in our life. You can learn to use tools and put plans in place to help understand and manage the emotions you experience. It is not shameful to speak to someone who can safely support you. Working through painful stuff can help to build your emotional health.
Seeing a counsellor may be suggested to you. A counsellor is about having someone you can check in with, chat and be listened to without judgement.
Finding a counsellor that works for you is important, as everyone is different. However, counselling is your experience, and you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.
There are also many websites and apps available to support you and your mental wellbeing. These include:
- Headspace
- Beyondblue
- ReachOut
- Head to Health
- Smiling Mind on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
"Self-love is being able to love yourself. It is so important. Self-love is power"
- YOU CC Youth Representative
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an Australia-wide scheme supporting people with permanent and significant disability. The NDIS takes a flexible, whole-of-life approach to working with you, your family and carers to develop an individualised plan. You will have more choice and control over how, when and where your supports are provided.
The NDIS will work to connect you with community and mainstream supports as well as pay for additional reasonable and necessary supports to help you participate in daily life and pursue your goals and aspirations.
There are different types of support that the NDIS can help you get if you need it. For more information, talk to your caseworker and visit the NDIS website.
Victim support scheme recognition payment
Some young people who have been in care are eligible for support from Victims Services. There are different types of support available depending on the situation, including counselling and financial support. While you are in care your caseworker must check your file to find out if you are eligible and take care of all the paperwork for you. If you are not sure whether your file has been checked, or if you might be eligible, you should talk to your caseworker.
For more information, visit the Victims Services website or contact them on 1800 633 063 or 1800 019 123 (Aboriginal Contact Line) or vs@dcj.nsw.gov.au.