Practical AI Considerations (Sydney), 9 Dec - Together 4 Youth Community of Practice

When: Wednesday 9 December 2026, 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM AEDT Where: The Youth Impact Foundation, Suite 102/12 Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Cost: Free (25 places). Free breakfast included. Together 4 Youth and The Youth Impact Foundation bring together organisations across the youth wellbeing sector — from one-person startups to large not-for-profits and social enterprises — in a Community of Practice to improve how providers work with schools. This session helps members understand the reality of AI so they can align both internal operations and school-facing services for better outcomes. Schools and providers are being disrupted by AI; the focus is practical: what good looks like, what to avoid, and tools you can take back. We'll cover: • Where AI is showing up in students' lives (companionship, reliance, help-seeking, harmful content) and emerging mental health effects • Red flags and common mistakes in how schools and providers use AI with young people — and better alternatives • Assessing organisational readiness and choosing low-risk AI uses that free staff for relational work • Planning a staff-inclusive change process for introducing AI internally • Shaping school-facing AI services that add value schools cannot easily create themselves Format: Hands-on interactive workshop with expert insight, peer exchange, table discussions, and takeaway tools. Key speaker: Roisin McNaney — https://www.linkedin.com/in/roisin-mcnaney-793769a6 Associate Professor in Digital Health at the University of Melbourne and Director of the CSIRO Next Generation Graduates Program in AI in Mental Health. Her work explores new and emerging technologies in brain and mental health, with a significant focus on AI, youth mental health and co-design. She regularly translates research for schools, school leaders and service providers, with AI literacy a specific focus of her speaking. She is a highly experienced workshop facilitator across service providers, clinicians, government, peak bodies, academics, people with lived experience, and young people. Attendance: Free. In-person includes breakfast. Presented by Together 4 Youth and The Youth Impact Foundation.