Staying healthy for teenagers

Your child's health

Healthy eating

Healthy eating and being active is important for your child’s good health, growth, development and mental health. Teaching your child to make good food choices now also makes them more likely to make healthy choices as they get older.

Find out about the Australian Dietary Guidelines on the Eat for Health website.

Being active

Children over 5 and young people should be active for at least 60 minutes a day. This could be walking, riding a bike or scooter, playing, running or sport. You can also build physical activity into your child’s day by walking to school or the bus.

Find out more about physical activity and exercise guidelines for children and young people on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Immunisation for teenagers

The following vaccinations are recommended for your child in their teen years:

• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) at 12 to 13 years old.
• Human papillomavirus at 12 to 13 years old.
• Meningococal at 14 to 16 years old.

The vaccines are free as part of the National Immunisation Program. Your child can get them through school immunisation programs.

Find out more about immunisation for adolescents on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Getting their immunisation history statement

If your child is under 14 years old, you can get their immunisation history statement in your Medicare online account through myGov.

It shows the vaccinations they’ve had that are recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register.

When your child turns 14, you’ll no longer be able to access their immunisation history statement. They’ll be able to view it using their Medicare online account through myGov.

There are other ways to get an immunisation history statement if they can’t use their Medicare online account. Find out how to get an immunisation history statement.

Your child’s health information

You can use your child’s My Health Record to keep track of their health information.

You, and your chosen health care providers, can record things like your child’s allergies and medicines. My Health Record keeps your child’s health information secure and can be accessed at any time.

Find out more about accessing or creating a child's health record on the Digital Health website.

Smoking, vaping, alcohol and drug use in teenagers

Teenagers sometimes experiment with smoking, vaping, alcohol and drugs, which can impact their health and development.

Tips for talking to your child:

• Talk to them about the risks to their health and development.
• Be clear about your own beliefs and set a good example with smoking or your own alcohol intake.
• Stay calm and avoid judging or lecturing them.
• Set rules and consequences.
• Help them to navigate this situation.

Find out more about talking to young people about smoking, alcohol or drugs or vaping on the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website.

Find out more about smoking and tobacco and young people or alcohol and young people on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.