HOY Update

Year 12: YOU CHOOSE – Youth Road Safety

This week, Melissa McGuiness from YOU CHOOSE – Youth Road Safety came to speak to the Year 12 cohort about Australia’s youth-led mission to change driving culture. This program offers a unique perspective – from the family of the perpetrator.

In 2012, YOU CHOOSE founders, Melissa and Peter McGuinness's 18 year-old son, Jordan, made driving choices which caused the loss of four innocent young lives. Jordan also died in the crash.

The program extends beyond a cautionary tale, by positively uplifting young drivers and passengers to protect their families and their communities from the preventable tragedy road trauma.

The Year 12 cohort were engaged and attending with a Thinking Big mindset – considering how their intentions, choices and actions can impact on those around them.

Navigating Social Media and Your Teen's Digital Reputation

In today’s world, social media is deeply woven into the daily lives of teenagers. It offers countless opportunities for connection, creativity, and self-expression but it also comes with risks that are often underestimated. One of the most important considerations for families is how a young person’s online presence can shape their digital reputation, sometimes with lasting consequences.

Every post, comment, like, or share contributes to a teen’s digital footprint. This online trail forms part of their identity visible not just to friends, but potentially to schools, employers, and others in the future. Even content that feels temporary can be saved, shared, or misinterpreted, making it hard to truly erase.

As teenagers navigate the social pressures and fast-paced environment of digital spaces, it’s easy for them to overlook the long-term impact of their online actions. Missteps can affect their self-esteem, relationships, and even mental health, particularly when social media becomes a space of comparison, criticism, or misunderstanding.

Encouraging young people to pause and think critically before posting is one way we support them in Thinking Big, making thoughtful, creative choices that reflect their values and aspirations.

How Parents Can Support Their Teen's Online Wellbeing

Supporting your teen in managing their digital reputation doesn’t mean monitoring every click—they need space to grow and explore. But with a few simple strategies, parents can guide their child towards safer and more thoughtful online habits:

• Keep communication open: Encourage regular conversations about what they’re seeing and doing online. Listen without judgement so they feel safe sharing.

• Talk about permanence: Help your teen understand that what goes online can stay online, even with privacy settings in place.

• Set a good example: Your own online behaviour can be a powerful model. Demonstrate respectful and responsible digital interactions.

• Review privacy settings together: Make sure your teen knows how to manage their profiles and limit who can see what they share.

• Encourage empathy and awareness: Discuss how online comments, posts, or images can impact others, and the importance of kindness and respect in digital spaces.

These conversations help teens Step Up by taking ownership of their digital lives with honesty, self-regulation and perseverance.