Wellbeing News
Young Carers Celebration Lunch
On 20th July, Sydenham Campus held a lunch to celebrate young carers, and the amazing contribution they make to their families and communities.
The students and families enjoyed lunch and learned about the supports available from organisations like the Young Carers Network, including scholarships and bursaries.
Who are young carers?
Young carers are people up to 25 years old who provide unpaid care and support to family members or friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, mental illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged.
Young carers are often unseen in the role of carers as they see what they do for the person they care for as part of their normal role, or just helping out the person providing the majority of care.
If your child identifies as a young carer and you would like to find out more about how the school can celebrate and support them, please get in touch with the your campus wellbeing team.
You can find out more information about supports and scholarships available here: https://youngcarersnetwork.com.au/
Ms Sarah Pearson
Educational & Developmental Psychologist
Kings Park vegetable gardens
The Kings Park campus has reinvigorated their vegetable garden patches. Being able to bring our garden back to life will give the students a sense of belonging while fostering healthy eating habits.
We hope to commence a Gardening Club in the near future for the students at Kings Park. These students will be taught the fundamental basics of establishing a garden, how to sew seeds and harvest. We are also hopeful to have the students cultivate their own seedlings.
We aim to change the way students think about food, and teaches how to grow, harvest and prepare fresh and nutritious food. It is also proven kitchen gardens in schools has a clear correlation between student health, wellbeing and engagement, and improved student learning outcomes.
Gardening is one of the most beneficial activities you can do for yourself, especially in terms of your health. The benefits that it can give you range from physical to social to mental and even developmental.
Some interesting wellbeing facts about gardening include:
-Studies show that daily gardening can reduce the risk of dementia by 36 %.
- Gardening can help reduce cortisol levels; the stress hormone.
- Being outdoors in the sunshine can trigger serotonin being released; a mood stabiliser to help us feel more positive and productive.
- Soil contains a natural antidepressant that can make us happier.
- Those who grow veggies are more conscious about having a healthy diet.
Pamela Grech, Secondary Health Promotion Nurse