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STUDENT VOICE STUDENT VOICE

Planning Saw Public health and global health are deeply intertwined, and my
work naturally extends across both. In 2024, I participated in
the Indo-Pacific Global Health Case Competition, where I was
racism against Chinese and Asian communities was rampant
– not always overt, but felt in the stares, whispers, and quiet placed into a team of five strangers. Together, we developed
exclusions in public spaces. an innovative, community-driven strategy to support malaria
elimination in Papua New Guinea. Our team went on to win
But I was just a student, with no formal work experience. So, I first place, and I am excited to represent the University of
turned to the one thing I knew: education. If we could educate Melbourne at the 2025 Emory Morningside Global Health Case
young people – our future leaders – on health equity, social Competition.
justice, and public health, perhaps we could help build a society
that sees health not as a privilege, but as a shared responsibility, Let’s return to that important sentence…
empowered by knowledge and evidence. We make the best decisions with the information we have at that
moment.
Fast forward five years, and Global Health Youth Connect To me, this means we are often our own harshest critics,
(GHYC) has continued to grow. Our Global Health Masterclass weighed down by hindsight and regret over things we couldn’t
Series has reached over 500 students across Victoria, supported have known at the time. But if we recognise that every decision
by more than 100 volunteers. In 2024, we launched our Global Mental Health Presentation – A collaborative event by Global – every initiative, application, or challenge – is shaped by the
inaugural Global Health Case Competition, engaging Year 9–12 Health Youth Connect, where we participated in a Global Health knowledge we had at the time, it shifts our perspective. It
Conference, and I led a discussion on a global mental health case study
students in leading real-world public health solutions. allows us to let go of self-criticism and embrace growth.
systemic inequities and advocate for greater youth involvement
GHYC was born out of frustration, but it thrives on hope, in shaping public health policy. I have shared with you my successes, but behind them are
knowledge, and the unwavering belief that young people aren’t countless other attempts. Some never became anything
just the future – they are leaders today. I believe young people are not passive bystanders in public ‘noteworthy’. If I were to document them all, I’d need a few
health – they are the architects of the future. I was humbled more pages! But I don’t regret them. Each experience adds
Lived Experience of Mental Health to receive the 2024 Youth Health Award from the Australian something – a lesson, a new perspective, a path I wouldn’t have
One of the core themes we focus on at GHYC is mental health. Association of Adolescent Health in recognition of my considered otherwise.
That might seem unsurprising, given the ongoing youth mental contributions to youth health and policy advocacy.
Future Healthy Countdown 2030 Launch at Parliament House health crisis, but looking back I realise I was, in some ways, Public health advocacy is most powerful when research Now, as I approach the final stretch of my medical degree, I
shaping GHYC around my own unspoken struggles. At the time, carry this mindset forward – not just in my studies, but in the
I wasn’t openly saying, ‘mental health is important because drives real-world action. In June 2024, I was invited to speak way I will practise medicine. Whether in clinical care, public
Planning Saw (2018) was resident in JCH for three years (2018- I’ve felt its effects’. Instead, GHYC became an outlet – a way at Parliament House about the harmful impact on young health, or policy advocacy, every challenge will come with
2020). Here he reflects on his life and shares with us the path to express the significance of mental health without explicitly people of alcohol, gambling, and fast-food advertising. Later, uncertainty. But just like every step before, I will make the best
that has led him to the final year of his medical degree. in December 2024, I returned to advocate for lowering the
linking it to my own lived experience. decision I can with the knowledge I have at that moment. And
In a society that prioritises short-form content and quick But over time, I came to better understand myself. When voting age, championing young people’s right to a tangible the result might just surprise you…
voice in policymaking. This experience allowed me to engage
dopamine rushes, if there’s one sentence I would like to share, I arrived in Australia, I was experiencing symptoms of with Members of Parliament, translating research into clear, *Born in 1970 in Kazakhstan, batyr the elephant was able to ‘speak’
it’s this one… depression, though I didn’t recognise them as such. During my actionable policy discussions, reinforcing the importance of about 20 human-sounding phrases. He became a symbol of courage,
We make the best decisions with the information we have at that undergraduate years, I reached that threshold again. effective communication across stakeholders. strength and resilience, inspiring people to speak up even in the
moment. toughest of times. batyr.com.au
I’ll expand on that later. For a long time, I avoided seeking help. It was only in the
past two years that I finally reached out – through a GP,
I was born in Australia, but my parents chose to raise me in psychological therapy, and medication. Coming to terms with
Singapore, driven by many reasons – racism amongst them. At my mental health has made me stronger.
16, I returned to Sydney to complete my HSC and ATAR before
heading back to Singapore for two years of National Service, In 2023, I was honoured to be selected as the Orygen ASEAN-
fulfilling my obligations as a Singapore Permanent Resident. Australia Youth Mental Health Fellow for Australia. Over six
months, I engaged with youth mental health advocates across
Two weeks after completing National Service in February 2018, ASEAN, and our discussions affirmed what I had already
I arrived in Melbourne – stepping into this city for the first time recognised – that mental health isn’t just about the individual; it’s
and beginning a new chapter of my life in Janet Clarke Hall. I am deeply shaped by systemic factors like education, employment,
now a final year medical student at the University of Melbourne.
socioeconomic status, and in ASEAN countries, even war.
Let’s fill in the gaps – key words: Global Health Youth Connect, Today, I speak about mental health publicly through batyr*,
Youth Mental Health, Public and Global Health, and Parliament sharing my story to destigmatise mental illness. More
House. Each one shaped a different part of my journey, and importantly, I’m now more assured in who I am.
together, they tell the story of where I’ve been – and where I’m
headed.
Public and Global Health Advocacy
Global Health Youth Connect As you can probably tell, I am deeply passionate about the
I co-founded a not-for-profit charity in 2020, during my third social determinants of health – understanding how systemic
year of the Bachelor of Biomedicine. We all recognise now just factors shape communities and how we can create more
how significant that year was. supportive, equitable environments. This passion has led me
to co-author multiple articles in the Medical Journal of Australia
The pandemic was the catalyst. I felt frustrated – friends and as part of the Future Healthy Countdown 2030 Supplement,
family were separated across borders, and media narratives including Who Holds Power in Decision-Making for Young People’s
emphasised prioritising vaccine distribution to ‘our people’ as Future? and Young Voices, Healthy Futures: The Rationale for
opposed to those in developing countries. At the same time, Lowering the Voting Age to 16. These publications address Indo-Pacific Global Health Case Competition – Winning team with the judges, also featured on the University of Melbourne website

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