Fiona Brooks

This presentation will seek to turn the usual questions about young people around, rather than ask, how do we prevent young people around, rather than ask, how do we prevent participation in health risk behaviours? This presentation is participation in health risk behaviours? This presentation is concerned with the salutogenic question – how do we ensure concerned with the salutogenic question – how do we ensure young people thrive? The presentation focuses on young people thrive? The presentation focuses on understanding young people's health in their social context understanding young people's health in their social context and from their perspective– where they live, at school, withand from their perspective– where they live, at school, with family and friends. How these factors, individually and family and friends. How these factors, individually and together, influence young people's health as they move from together, influence young people's health as they move from childhood into young adulthood. Drawing on data from childhood into young adulthood. Drawing on data from multiple countries this presentation will examine the role of multiple countries this presentation will examine the role of public health in supporting young people to thrive.

Professor Fiona Brooks is PVC and Dean of Health andEnvironmental Sciences at AUT. Her research work challengesEnvironmental Sciences at AUT. Her research work challenges a deficit approach to young people’s health by examining how a deficit approach to young people’s health by examining how protective health assets may operate to build capacity and protective health assets may operate to build capacity and capabilities for young people. She has undertaken research incapabilities for young people. She has undertaken research in this field for WHO since 2008 as UK lead for the international this field for WHO since 2008 as UK lead for the internationalHealth Behaviour in School Aged Children Study (HBSC) whichHealth Behaviour in School Aged Children Study (HBSC) which takes place in 48 countries.