5 February 2016
New app makes seeking help a goal for teens
Innovative new research, in collaboration with young people, has taken ‘Truth or Dare’ to a
whole new level for 2016!
Dubbed Goalzie, a new free app has been developed to promote the idea that getting help from
peers, developing a positive social network and setting and achieving goals is not only healthy,
but fun.
The app targets young people aged 12 to 17 years old, and reinvents the old-school ‘Truth or
Dare’ game for the next generation, all to help maintain their wellbeing.
Goalzie has been designed to encourage peer-to-peer interactions and goal-setting by giving
players the opportunity to challenge friends and be challenged by them. Challenges might be
physical, such as doing a dance work out; may target self-regulation, such as giving up
chocolate for a week; or encourage creativity, such as making a Vine video.
The game allows players to set fun consequences for unachieved goals – doing chores,
washing the family car or weeding the garden.
Associate Professor Jane Burns, CEO of the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre,
said: “Evidence shows us that 75% of mental health difficulties occur before the age of 25, and
that 70% of girls and 80% of boys don’t seek help for managing their mental health issues.
Through apps like Goalzie we are trying to break down stigma and instil help-seeking behaviour
using humour and gamification.”
The app—created by the Young and Well CRC and the University of South Australia in
conjunction with the Western Sydney University, Zuni and the Queensland University of
Technology—was developed through a series of co-creation workshops with young people.
One of the campaign co-collaborators involved in the design and production of Goalzie, 13-yearold Diya Mehta, said: “Young people were fully immersed in the creative process, testing,
improving and designing the app themselves. This all presents itself in the app; an important
way for people to connect with themselves and others, all through a creative and playful
medium.
“Created with infinite care, Goalzie transforms Truth or Dare into an engaging game, designed
to seal bridges of friendship help bolster confidence, and improve goal-setting skills,” Diya said.
As an added bonus, Goalzie also includes access to The Toolbox – a resource created by
ReachOut Australia in partnership with the Young and Well CRC to further help young people
seek help through identifying goals. The Toolbox provides a collection of over 50 health and
wellbeing tools and apps endorsed by professionals and reviewed by people under 25 years
old.
YOUNG AND WELL CRC
Unit 17, 71 Victoria Crescent
ABBOTSFORD VIC 3067
youngandwellcrc.org.au
P. +61 3 9937 1333
F. +61 3 9416 4416
Lead researcher on the project, Dr Barbara Spears, from the University of South Australia, said
Goalzie was trialled by young people and the research insights will be available mid-year.
“By practising setting goals for others, and helping them to achieve their goals in a fun way,
young people are learning and establishing important, positive patterns of behaviour. Being
socially connected, and reaching out to others for help and assistance breaks down barriers and
stigma about setting goals and seeking help to achieve them. We are investigating how young
people have engaged with Goalzie with a view to further understanding the potential of social
marketing campaigns to improve wellbeing of young people,” Dr Spears said.
Visit www.goalzie.com.au and download the free app now for iPhone or Android.
Hi-res images of the Goalzie robot available on request. Researchers and young people
available for interviews.
– ENDS –
Additional information
Goalzie was developed as part of the Young and Well CRC’s Safe and Well Online project,
providing youth-led solutions to promote cybersafety, digital citizenship, strong and supportive
relationships and good communication and life skills through technology. The project aims to
encourage young people to value their own online safety and wellbeing, and to educate the
community on the use of digital technology to maintain wellbeing.
The fourth and last in a series of campaigns from the Safe and Well Online project, Goalzie
builds on the success of Something Haunting You?, encouraging young men to seek help for
everyday stressors; Appreciate A Mate, promoted positivity online; and Keep It Tame, promoting
respect online. The five-year project provides insight into how young people perceive key issues
related to their safety and wellbeing, how they interact with digital campaigns and how effective
they are in influencing or changing attitudes and behaviour.
About the Young and Well CRC // youngandwellcrc.org.au
The Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre is an Australia-based, international research
centre that unites young people with researchers, practitioners, innovators and policy-makers
from over 70 partner organisations. Together, we explore the role of technology in young people’s
lives, and how it can be used to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged
12 to 25. The Young and Well CRC is established under the Australian Government’s
Cooperative Research Centres Program.
Media Contacts
Rebecca Philpot, Head of Communications
M: 0400 827 661 E: rebecca@yawcrc.org.au
YOUNG AND WELL CRC
Unit 17, 71 Victoria Crescent
ABBOTSFORD VIC 3067
youngandwellcrc.org.au
P. +61 3 9937 1333
F. +61 3 9416 4416
Zoe Stephenson, Communications Coordinator
M: 0408 177 716 E: zoe@yawcrc.org.au